sed and pained her. It
was only a glance, and her own eyes were full, but through the mist of
happy tears she received the impression that Archie was about the same,
that Mac had decidedly improved, and that something was amiss with
Charlie. There was no time for observation, however, for in a moment
the shoreward rush began, and before she could grasp her traveling bag,
Jamie was clinging to her like an ecstatic young bear. She was with
difficulty released from his embrace to fall into the gentler ones
of the elder cousins, who took advantage of the general excitement to
welcome both blooming girls with affectionate impartiality. Then the
wanderers were borne ashore in a triumphal procession, while Jamie
danced rapturous jigs before them even on the gangway.

Archie remained to help his uncle get the luggage through the Custom
House, and the others escorted the damsels home. No sooner were they
shut up in a carriage, however, than a new and curious constraint seemed
to fall upon the young people, for they realized, all at once, that
their former playmates were men and women now. Fortunately, Jamie
was quite free from this feeling of restraint and, sitting bodkinwise
between the ladies, took all sorts of liberties with them and their
belongings.

"Well, my mannikin, what do you think of us?" asked Rose, to break an
awkward pause.

"You've both grown so pretty, I can't decide which I like best. Phebe is
the biggest and brightest-looking, and I was always fond of Phebe, but
somehow you are so kind of sweet and precious, I really think I must hug
you again," and the small youth did it tempestuously.

"If you love me best, I shall not mind a bit about your thinking Phebe
the handsomest, because she is. Isn't she, boys?" asked Rose, with a
mischievous look at the gentlemen opposite, whose faces expressed a
respectful admiration which much amused her.

"I'm so dazzled by the brilliancy and beauty that has suddenly burst
upon me, I have no words to express my emotions," answered Charlie,
gallantly dodging the dangerous question.

"I can't say yet, for I have not had time to look at anyone. I will now,
if you don't mind." And, to the great amusement of the rest, Mac gravely
adjusted his eyeglasses and took an observation.

"Well?" said Phebe, smiling and blushing under his honest stare, yet
seeming not to resent it as she did the lordly sort of approval which
made her answer the glance of Charlie's audacious blue eyes w