arried but Cousin Helen," Bess exclaimed.

Carl looked up from a weighty volume he was consulting. "That is easy
to guess; it is Joanna, of course."

"Is it Jo, Auntie?"

"Yes, she confided it to me a few minutes ago. It will be in June, and
Patrick Loughlin is the happy man."

"I should think she would rather live with us, but there is no
accounting for taste," said Bess, as she went to find Louise and tell
the news.

"I can't imagine what ails Ikey; he is as cross as a bear," remarked
Carl, closing his book with a bang.

"Perhaps he is worrying over examinations," Aunt Zelie suggested.

Her nephew laughed. "That would not be like Ikey; and then he has done
finely this term, so that there will not be a bit of trouble about his
passing."

"I sincerely hope that there is not another of my boys in trouble,"
she said anxiously.

"Oh! it can't be any thing really, only I never knew him to be
snappish. I thought I'd mention it, for you might get it out of him if
you happen to see him."

About the middle of the afternoon Mrs. Howard closed the front door
behind her and came out into the pleasant spring air. As she reached
the gate she caught sight of a light-brown head in one of the
third-story windows across the street, and acting on a sudden impulse
she made a signal.

The window went up promptly, and going over she called: "Can't you
come with me out to Neffler's? I'd like some company. Never mind, of
course, if you are busy."

"Thank you, I am not busy; I'll come," and in two minutes Ikey was
beside her.

It was easy to see he was not quite himself. Usually he would have
been bubbling over with gayety at the honor of being chosen a
companion for a long walk to the florist's, but now the conversation
was all on one side.

Mrs. Howard did her best to be entertaining, and took no notice of his
evident preoccupation until she had given her orders and they turned
toward home; then she said: "I have been waiting in the hope that you
would tell me what is troubling you, but now I shall have to ask; Carl
and I are both wondering what has happened."

Ikey looked very much surprised, being under the delusion that he was
concealing his feelings perfectly.

"I am not in any trouble," he began, "though I am bothered about
something, and I oughtn't to be; that is what makes it so bad."

His companion looked sympathetic and waited for further revelations.

"You see," Ikey went on, "I wrote to Papa about going to