a thousand. I assure you, Captain
Bertram, I can hardly ever get that girl to leave her mother alone in
the evening."

Beatrice laughed.

"It so happens," she said, "that my mother is having tea and supper
to-night at Mrs. Butler's. So if you really care to have me, Mrs. Bell,
I shall be delighted to come."

Beatrice, the popular, the beloved of all in the town, never knew, never
to her dying day, that on a certain memorable occasion, good-humored,
fat, pompous Mrs. Bell would have given half a sovereign to box her
ears. The astute captain, however, guessed her feelings, and chuckled
inwardly. He had also found out during his brief morning's conversation
that Mrs. Meadowsweet was going to sup from home.

"How delightful you look, Miss Bell!" he said, suddenly, fixing his dark
eyes on Matty.

Their glance caused her to start and blush.

"Mrs. Bell," he said, raising his voice again, "Miss Matty has been so
anxious to have Miss Meadowsweet's company this evening. And now we are
all happy," he added, gayly. "Shall I give you another riddle, Miss
Matty?"

Mrs. Bell's anxious brows relaxed, and she smiled inwardly.

"Poor man! He is over head and ears in love," she murmured. "I suppose
he thinks Beatrice will play gooseberry with the other girls, and leave
him more chance to be alone with little Matty. She does _not_ look
her best, that I will say for her; but, poor fellow, he sees no faults,
that's evident. How beautiful the love-light in his eyes is--ah, dear
me, it reminds me of the time when I was young, and Bell used to go on
his knees to me--Bell hadn't eyes like Captain Bertram though. Dear,
dear, he is attentive, poor man, and how close he bends over Matty. I'll
help him, so I will. I'll take Beatrice and the other girls away when
once we get out of the boat. We four will walk up to the house together,
and let Captain Bertram and his little girl follow. Why, of course,
she's his little girl; bless her, the dear child! Then when we get in,
I'll get Bee and Alice and Sophy to come upstairs by way of consulting
how Matty's new dress is to be made, so the two poor things can have the
drawing-room to themselves. I shouldn't be a bit surprised if he popped
there and then. Well, I am gratified. Bertram is a pretty name--Matilda
Bertram! She won't like to be known as Matty, then. 'Mrs. Captain
Bertram'--it sounds very stylish. I wonder how much money pa will allow
for the trousseau. And how am I to manage about the