-off as you please, Matty."

"Yes, mother," said Matty, in a languid tone.

She knew, however, that it was not in her nature to be stand-off to any
one, and beneath all the comfort of her mother's words she could not
help doubting if Captain Bertram would care how she behaved to him.

The next morning the Rector's invitation came for the annual treat, and
the hopes of the Bells once more rose high. On this occasion Mrs. Bell
was to accompany her daughters. Bell would also be present, but, as he
was never of much account, this small fact scarcely rested on any one's
mind. All the town was now in state of ferment. The Rector's party was
the only thing spoken about, and many were the prognostications with
regard to the weather.

The day of festival came at last; the sun arose gloriously, not a cloud
was in the sky, all the merry-makers might go in their best, and all
hearts might be jubilant. It was delightful to see Northbury on this
day, for so gay were the costumes worn by its inhabitants that as they
passed through the narrow old streets they gave the place of their birth
a picturesque and even a foreign appearance.

The Rectory was just outside the town, and, of course, all the footsteps
were bending thither. The Rector had invited his guests to assemble at
three o'clock, and punctually at a quarter to that hour Miss Peters
seated herself in her bay window, armed with a spy-glass to watch the
gathering crowd.

Miss Peters was already arrayed in her festive clothes, but she and Mrs.
Butler thought it ungenteel not to be, at least, an hour late. "The
Bertrams will be sure to be late," remarked the good lady to her sister,
"and we, too, Martha, will show that we know what's what."

"Which we don't," snapped Mrs. Butler. "We are sure and certain to be
put in the wrong before we are half-an-hour there. However, I agree with
you, Maria; we won't be among the hurryers. I hate to be one of those
who snap at a thing. Now, what's the matter? How you do startle me!"

"It's Mrs. Gorman Stanley," gasped Miss Peters; "she's in red velvet,
with a beaded bodice--and--oh, do look at her bonnet, Martha!
Positively, it's hideous. A straw-green, with blue forget-me-nots, and
those little baby daisies dropping over her hair. Well, well, how that
woman does ape youth!"

Mrs. Butler snatched the spy-glass from her sister, and surveyed Mrs.
Gorman Stanley's holiday attire with marked disapproval. She threw down
her glasses presentl