Dr. Jeremy was talking with Mr. Bruce
concerning something which had happened many years ago; there was a
great deal about a fool's cap, with a long tassel, and taking afternoon
naps in the grass; the doctor was making queer allusions to some old
pear-tree, and traps set for thieves, and kept reminding Gertrude of
circumstances which attended their first acquaintance with each other
and with Mr. Bruce.

Kitty was beginning to feel that she had placed herself in the position
of an intruder, and began to feel embarrassed, when Gertrude touched her
arm, and making room for her next herself, motioned to her to sit down,
saying, as she did so, "Dr. Jeremy is speaking of the time when he (or
he and I, as he chooses to have it) went fruit-stealing in Mrs. Bruce's
orchard, and were unexpectedly caught by Mr. Bruce."

"You mean, my dear," interrupted the doctor, "that Mr. Bruce was
discovered by us. Why, it's my opinion he would have slept until this
time if I hadn't given him such a thorough waking up."

"My first acquaintance with you was certainly the greatest awakening of
my life," said Ben, speaking as if to the doctor, but looking meaningly
at Gertrude; "that was not the only nap it cost me. How sorry I am, Miss
Gertrude, that you've given up working in the garden, as you used to!
Pray, how does it happen?"

"Mrs. Graham has had it remodelled," replied Gertrude, "and the new
gardener neither needs nor desires my services. He has his own plans,
and it is not well to interfere with the professor of an art; I should
be sure to do mischief."

"I doubt whether his success compares with yours," said Ben. "I do not
see anything like the same quantity of flowers in the room that _you_
used to have."

"I think," said Gertrude, "that he is not as fond of cutting them as I
was. I did not care so much for the appearance of the garden as for
having plenty of flowers in the house; but with him it is the reverse."

Kitty made remark to Mr. Bruce on the subject of gardening, and
Gertrude, turning to Dr. Jeremy, continued in conversation with him,
until Mrs. Jeremy rose to go, when she said, "Dr. Jeremy, have you given
Gertrude her letter?"

"Goodness me!" exclaimed the doctor. Then feeling in his pocket, he drew
forth an evidently foreign document, the envelope literally covered with
various coloured post-office stamps. "See here, Gerty, genuine Calcutta;
no mistake!"

Gertrude took the letter, and, as she thanked the doctor,