breakfast? None of
our rooms are big, and all the town's people will want to be asked. It
isn't for me to turn my back on old friends; but I doubt if the Bertrams
will like to meet every one, of course, they are the first to be
considered. Lor, Sophy, how you startled me; what's the matter, child?"

"You're in a brown study, ma. How much longer are you going to stay in
the boat? We have all landed."

"Good gracious! mercy mother! Help me out quick, Sophy, quick! Bee,
Beatrice, come and lend me your hand. You are bigger than my girls, and
my legs are always a little unsteady in a boat. Oh, not you, Captain
Bertram, I beg, I pray. You just go on with Matty to the house, and
we'll follow presently. Go on like a good man, and don't bother
yourself."

Here she winked broadly at Beatrice, who started and colored.

"I don't want to keep him back," she said, in a broad whisper to the
young lady, who was helping her to alight on the steps. "He's over head
and ears, and I thought we would give them their chance. You stay close
to me, lovey. What a fine strong arm you have! There! Alice hasn't a bit
of gumption--as if Matty wanted Alice to walk with her! Alice, come back
and help your mother. I'm quite giddy from the motion of the water. Come
back, child, I say!"

But it was not Alice who turned. Captain Bertram, with the most gracious
gallantry, proffered his arm to the fat old lady, and while he helped
her to the house looked again and again at Beatrice.

CHAPTER XIV.

AT HER GATES.

Mr. Bell was as thin as his wife was fat, and as quiet and unassuming as
she was bumptious and talkative. On the occasion of this memorable
supper he very nearly drove his better half into fits by his utter want
of observation.

"It's that that worries me in Bell," the good woman was often heard to
say. "When a thing is as plain as the nose on his face he won't see it.
And not all my hints will make him see it. Hints!--You might hint
forever to Bell, and he wouldn't know what you were driving at."

These remarks Mrs. Bell had made, times without number, concerning her
spouse, but never had ehe more cause to give utterance to them than on
the present occasion. For just when the whole party were seated at
supper, and she by the boldest manoeuvres had placed Captain Bertram
next to herself by the coffee-tray, and had planted Matty at his other
side, so that he was in a measure hemmed in, and if he did not talk to
Matty had no one