for whatever happens."

Sophy, having been judiciously bribed by the loan of a large Cairngorm
brooch of her mother's, which took up a conspicuous position at her
throat, finally consented to carry the obnoxious parcel. Alice was
further instructed, in case Mrs. Bertram so far failed in her duty as to
neglect to invite Matty to stay to dine at the Manor to try and bring
Captain Bertram back with them to supper.

"You tell him that I'll have a beautiful lobster, and a crab done to a
turn ready for him," whispered the mother. "You'll manage it, Alice, and
look sympathetic when you speak to him, poor fellow. Let him know that
I'll give him his chances, whether that proud lady, his mother, does or
not. Now then, off you go, all three of you. Kiss me, Matty, my pet.
Well, to be sure, you do look stylish."

The three little figures in their somewhat tight shoes toddled down the
street. In the evening they toddled back again. The brown paper parcel
tossed, and somewhat torn, was tucked fiercely under Sophy's arm, and
Alice was unaccompanied by any brave son of Mars.

Sophy was the first to enter her expectant mother's presence.

"There, ma," she said, flinging the paper parcel on the table. "I hope
we have had enough of those Bertrams and their ways. The fuss I had over
that horrid parcel. I thought I'd never get it back again. In the end I
had to see Mrs. Bertram about it, and didn't she crush me just! She's an
awful woman. I never want to speak to her again all my life, and as to
the captain caring for Matty!"

"Where is Matty?" here interrupted Mrs. Bell. "She was not asked to stay
behind after all, then?"

"_She_ asked to stay behind? You speak for yourself, Matty. For my
part, I think it was very unfair to give Matty that silk. We might all
have had nice washing muslins for the price of it. Where are you, Matty?
Oh, I declare she has gone upstairs in the sulks!"

"You're in a horrid bad temper, Sophy; that I can see," expostulated the
mother. "Well, Alice, perhaps you can tell me what all this fuss is
about? I hope to goodness you gave the captain my message, child."

"I didn't see him to give it, mother," answered Alice. "He never spoke
once to us the whole time. He just shook hands when we arrived, but even
then he didn't speak."

"Captain Bertram never spoke to Matty during the entire evening?" gasped
Mrs. Bell. "Child, you can't be speaking the truth, you must be joking
me."

"I'm not, truly, mother. Capt