to say there was great rejoicing in the Gurney household
that evening. Elsie was petted and caressed to her heart's content, and she
listened with a smiling face to the oft-repeated remark that she "looked so
much better."

Hugh's unexpected good fortune came in for a share of the discussion which
took place round the tea-table, and the well-cooked _prodigal_ was the butt
of many jokes. Dexie was asked to come in and get her share of the "fatted
calf," as Gracie persisted in calling it, but she begged to be excused,
feeling that she would prefer to spend her first evening at home.

Gussie lost no time in telling Dexie all her hopes and plans, and she gave
the impression that everything was settled. She could talk of nothing but
the splendid time she expected to have in the future.

"Hugh does not say much to me, but I know I can do just as I like with him
after we are married, so I don't mind if he is rather cool and short
occasionally. Of course he means to marry me, or why did he talk so long to
papa about it?" said Gussie, as she followed Dexie downstairs.

"Did papa tell you about it?" a suspicion of the true state of affairs
entering her mind for a moment.

"No--but--well, to tell the truth, I was listening at the door, but I heard
enough to let me know the nature of the interview, for I heard papa say
quite distinctly, 'I don't think she cares enough for you, and she must
marry to suit herself,' so what else could he have meant? Now, I do not
care so very much about Hugh, I must confess--or I did not, I mean, when he
was merely Mr. Gurney's clerk, but with a fortune in his pocket who could
refuse such a fine-looking man?"

"Well, I could, for one," said Dexie, trying to hide a laugh. "He would
need something more than riches to be attractive to me, for all his fine
looks; but I congratulate you, Gussie. I hope you will be happy."

"Of course I will be happy, so long as the money holds out, anyway," said
she, with a laugh that grated harshly on her sister's ears. "Did you see
any brides when you were away, Dexie, and how were they dressed?"

"I wasn't searching for brides, Gussie. I confined my attention to
pollywogs, crabs, and things of that ilk."

Gussie's remarks jarred on her feelings, in spite of her efforts to seem
careless, but she smiled, as Gussie scornfully replied:

"Well, did I ever! I guess if you searched for a sunburnt face and a
blistered nose, you found _them_ fast enough."

"Yes, unfor