red
it good taste to press his suit while Alice was their guest. But now it
occurred to him that to escort her home would be a wise move. "By all
means go back with her," Blanch had replied when he broached his idea,
"and by the time you have reached Sandgate you will know where you stand
in your schoolma'am's feelings. She knows, too, how mamma feels towards
her, so that obstacle is removed. And if there is any hope for you, you
will know it soon; only as I told you once before, wait until the right
moment comes, and then woo her quickly and courageously."

For an hour they trundled along through the snow-clad country chatting
commonplaces, and then Alice said: "Did you meet the island girl last
summer that you told me Bert had fallen in love with?"

"Only once," he replied. "Bert invited her and the old lady on board the
'Gypsy' and introduced them. They remained only long enough to look the
yacht over. I left that day for Bethlehem, and as you know, came to
Sandgate." His eyes were on her as he said this, and he noticed that an
added color came to her face.

"What did you think of this girl?" asked Alice hastily; "tell me what
she looks like--is she handsome?"

It is a woman's usual question, and a hard one for a man to answer,
especially if the one who asks it is the girl he adores.

"She has a beautiful figure," he answered, "and eyes like yours, which
you know are what I admire; only they are not so full of mischief. They
have a far-away look that makes you think her thoughts are a thousand
miles away."

"How was she dressed?" was the next query.

"Oh, I haven't the least idea," was the answer; "she might have worn
calico for all I could tell. The only thing I can remember is that her
dress was tight-fitting and very plain."

Alice smiled.

"Those far-away eyes must have entranced you, your description is so
lucid," she replied sarcastically. Then she added: "How long did Bert
stay there after you came away?"

"Only a few days," replied Frank; "I never asked him. I told him to keep
and use the 'Gypsy' as long as he wanted and then I cut stick for Blanch
and--Sandgate."

He seemed to dwell upon the little outing, and Alice, noticing it, and
evasive ever, fought shy of the subject. She saw also that he was not
aware of her brother's infatuation and from motives of delicacy forbore
further questioning.

"Well, how do you like my haughty mother now?" he asked, "if that is a
fair question."

It was no