Why, I must be turning over a new leaf, eh, Dexie?"

Guy Traverse stepped to the door as Dexie entered the room, fearing also
that Mr. Sherwood was worse, but hearing his cheerful voice he thought he
would surprise him by showing himself, and he stepped to the bedside, his
hands clasped behind him, and a curious smile played over his face as he
waited.

"Bless my soul! Traverse, what are you doing here at this time of night?"
was the astonished remark as Mr. Sherwood turned and saw who was beside
him.

Traverse laughed pleasantly and drew a chair to the bedside.

"I have been waiting in the next room, fearing you might be ill again at
your usual hour and would need my services."

"And a sorry night you have had of it, I expect. Well, you don't seem much
the worse of it, after all," and he turned and looked curiously towards
Dexie.

"What mischief have you been up to now, Dexie, that you look so guilty?
Come here to me directly!"

"Are you going to scold me, papa?" and she stooped over and kissed him.

"I would like to find out first if you deserve it. I hope you have not been
quarrelling with Traverse, after what I said to you?"

"Well, not all the time," she blushingly answered. "He would not go home at
the proper time, though I tried to turn him out of the house."

"I see! Then it was the first part of the night you did not agree. And
what, may I ask, have you been doing since the row was settled? Out with it
now," holding her face between his two hands and looking into her eyes.

"Dear papa, that is not fair," as she tried to hide her face in his arms.

Mr. Sherwood felt sure that Guy had come to some understanding with her,
and wanted to make her own it, but Guy knew she would not care to be the
first to speak of it, so said in a happy voice:

"Give me a chance to tell a part of the story, Mr. Sherwood. Dexie has made
me a happy man at last. You will not care to hear all the particulars just
now, but she has promised to be my wife."

"Is this really true, Dexie?" looking with loving eyes at his daughter.

Dexie raised her hand, saying softly:

"See, papa," and the flashing ring answered the question.

"Well, well; I can hardly believe it yet. Go and kiss him, Dexie, right
before me, if it is really true; seeing is believing, you know."

Guy looked at her smilingly, saying, as he held out his hands, "Come,
Dexie."

Dexie put one hand in his, and laying the other across his shoulder bent
over an