guised
under a high-sounding name to deceive innocent people, and make them
believe they are eating something very high-toned. Just a little more tea,
papa. But I am up to their tricks and I'll not palm off any old-fashioned
dishes on you, under a Frenchified name," and she chatted on, helping him
and preparing what was before him, till she had beguiled him into making
quite a hearty meal.

That evening Mr. Traverse made his appearance as usual, bringing with him a
pretty basket of fruit, and his inquiries after Mr. Sherwood's health were
made so earnestly that Dexie felt sure he could not have been in during the
afternoon; someone else must have left the papers.

As may be supposed, Traverse was in excellent humor. He seemed bubbling
over with good-natured fun, and even Dexie thawed out sufficiently to
answer his repartees less caustically than usual.

"Something very pleasant must have happened to you to-day," said Gussie,
looking at him archly, "or else you have been studying a joke-book for our
amusement."

"Well, I have good reason to be jolly to-night," he replied, changing his
seat so as to watch Dexie's face. "I am going to be married! That fact
alone ought to make any reasonable man happy, don't you think?"

This announcement was so unexpected by everyone, that even Mr. Sherwood
looked up in surprise, and wondered "what next," and Dexie's eyes flashed
in indignation as she said to herself:

"Then he was only trying to get up a flirtation with me, after all, and his
tender looks and gallant speeches were only intended to draw me out! How
glad I am I never gave him the smallest encouragement! What should I have
done if he had guessed my secret? Yet he looked so true--who would believe
he was so deceitful? Oh, dear!"

She bent her head lower over her work, and said not a word. No one should
ever know how her heart ached at that announcement.

Gussie had always feared that if ever Guy Traverse gave up his "city girl"
he would turn to Dexie for consolation, and she was glad to hear this
announcement. Dexie was not going to get him, after all. She hoped Dexie
would feel disappointed, but she smiled sweetly as she said:

"Ah! you sly thing! How you have deceived us? How long have you been
engaged, and when is the event to come off? Do tell us about it."

"Well, I only received her father's permission to-day--something I was
afraid I would never get, so the time has not been set."

"Come, Dexie!" looking up