at friend of
the Norrises and it was known that Mrs. Robert Lee-Satterlee herself
approved of the match. So they would hope for the best, and Nancy was a
dear girl.

Tom was in perfect accord with the last sentiment, and it will perhaps
be charitable to draw a veil over his behaviour at this time. Such names
as "Mrs. Mouse" and "Boofly Woofly" are all very well when whispered
teasingly into the delighted ear of one's intended, but they hardly
stand the light of unromantic day. They have even been known to set up
opposing currents of emotion in breasts not so nicely attuned, and to
inspire such expressions as "Fish!" or even "Blat!" It may well be a
considerate office, therefore, not to submit our lovers to the graceless
manners of the unsympathetic, but to let them enjoy their artless
passages unmolested.

One of these, alone, might be risked. Nancy had confidingly told him
that she had all the faith in the world in his future, and he heard her
gratefully. "Why, the way you talked to those men at the mill shows
clearly enough what you can do," she said.

Tom coloured slightly, but let the moment pass without explanation. When
he had first done so it was with the mental reservation that he would
laughingly explain it some day, and he would, too, but it wasn't yet
just the right time. So he stooped and kissed her affectionately; and
then, as he was hatless at the time, she was reminded of something she
had long wanted to tell him.

"If you don't look out, Tom, you will be perfectly bald in five years."

"Well, I've done everything I can, and----"

"Now, all you have to do is to brush it five minutes in the morning and
five minutes at night."

"Ten minutes a day! I should be exhausted."

"Well, I shall do it for you, then." Whereupon the scene acquired an
excess of sentiment at once.

Certain more mundane passages may be observed, however, without any
particular offence.

The passages that took place around the opening of the wedding presents
were possibly as diverting as any. Tom, whose mind's eye was ever upon
the little colonial house in Tutors' Lane, now his property, was perhaps
more concerned than most grooms are in the furnishing of his nest. He
found himself greatly elated when he or his bride would draw forth some
shining prize of a silver bowl or plate--until they began getting too
many of them--and correspondingly depressed when some many-coloured
glass lamp or strange dish would appear. What on ear