by the hidden anguish which preyed upon them "fore and
aft," as Will expressed it.

Mrs. Jane's pair were an odd contrast, and even the stern disciplinarian
herself could not help smiling as she watched them. Steve was
superb, and might have been married on the spot, so superfine was his
broad-cloth, glossy his linen, and perfect the fit of his gloves. While
pride and happiness so fermented in his youthful bosom, there would have
been danger of spontaneous combustion if dancing had not proved a safety
valve, for his strong sense of the proprieties would not permit him to
vent his emotions in any other way.

Kitty felt no such restraint, and looked like a blissful little gypsy,
with her brunet prettiness set off by a dashing costume of cardinal and
cream color and every hair on her head curled in a Merry Pecksniffian
crop, for youth was her strong point, and she much enjoyed the fact that
she had been engaged three times before she was nineteen.

To see her and Steve spin around the room was a sight to bring a smile
to the lips of the crustiest bachelor or saddest spinster, for happy
lovers are always a pleasing spectacle, and two such merry little grigs
as these are seldom seen.

Mac, meantime, with glasses astride his nose, surveyed his brother's
performances "on the light fantastic" very much as a benevolent
Newfoundland would the gambols of a toy terrier, receiving with thanks
the hasty hints for his guidance which Steve breathed into his ear as
he passed and forgetting all about them the next minute. When not thus
engaged Mac stood about with his thumbs in his vest pockets, regarding
the lively crowd like a meditative philosopher of a cheerful aspect,
often smiling to himself at some whimsical fancy of his own, knitting
his brows as some bit of ill-natured gossip met his ear, or staring with
undisguised admiration as a beautiful face or figure caught his eye.

"I hope that girl knows what a treasure she has got. But I doubt if she
ever fully appreciates it," said Mrs. Jane, bringing her spectacles to
bear upon Kitty as she whisked by, causing quite a gale with her flying
skirts.

"I think she will, for Steve has been so well brought up, she cannot but
see and feel the worth of what she has never had, and being so young she
will profit by it," answered Mrs. Jessie softly, thinking of the days
when she and her Jem danced together, just betrothed.

"I've done my duty by both the boys, and done it thoroughly, or