and she
sentimentally wished them good-speed over all obstacles.

Mr. Cecil Burleigh rose as they entered, and said he would walk down the
pier with Miss Fairfax to restore her to the yacht, and Mr. Gardiner
bade Julia put on her hat and walk with them--it would refresh her after
staying all the hot afternoon in-doors.

The pier was deserted now. The gay crowd had disappeared, the regatta
was over for the day, and the band silent. The glare of sunshine had
softened to a delicate amber glow, and the water was smooth, translucent
as a lake. The three walked at a pace, but were overtaken and passed by
two ladies in dark blue-braided serge dresses that cleared the ground as
they walked and fitted close to very well made figures. Their hats were
black-glazed and low-crowned, with a narrow blue ribbon lettered "Ariel"
in white and gold.

"Look at those ladies," said Mr. Cecil Burleigh, suddenly breaking off
his talk with Julia to speak to Bessie; "that is the proper yachting
costume. You must have one before you come to Ryde in the Foam again."

Bessie blushed; perhaps he had been ashamed of her. This was a most
afflicting, humiliating notion. She was delighted to see the boat from
the yacht waiting to take her off. She had imagined her own dress both
pretty and becoming--she knew that it had cost her months of patient
embroidering. Poor Bessie! she had much to learn yet of the fitness of
things, and of things in their right places. Miss Gardiner treated her
as very young, and only spoke to her of her school, from which she was
newly but fully and for ever emancipated. Incidentally, Bessie learned a
bit of news concerning one of her early comrades there. "Ada Hiloe was
at Madame Fournier's at Caen. Was it in your time? Did you know her?"
she was asked, and when she said that she did, Mr. Cecil Burleigh added
for information that the young lady was going to be married; so he had
heard in Paris from Mr. Chiverton. Julia instantly cried out, "Indeed!
to whom?"

"To Mr. Chiverton himself."

"That horrid old man! Oh, can it be true?"

"He is very rich," was the quiet rejoinder, and both lapsed into
silence, until they had parted with their young companion.

Mr. Cecil Burleigh carefully enveloped Bessie in a cloak, Miss Gardiner
watching them. Then he bade her good-bye, with a reference to the
probability of his seeing her again soon at Abbotsmead. It was a
gracious good-bye, and effaced her slight discomfiture about her d