y. But Rita's heart was a poor
place for such thoughts to thrive, and when she arose next morning,
after a sleepless night of mingled joy and sorrow, she was almost as
unhappy as she had been the previous morning. She spent several days and
nights alternating between two opinions; but finally, after repeated
conversations with Miss Tousy, whose opinions you already know, and
after meditating upon Sukey's endeavor to entrap two men, she arrived at
two opposing conclusions. First, it was her duty to give Dic up; and
second, she would do nothing of the sort. That was the first, and I
believe the only selfish resolve that ever established itself in the
girl's heart with her full knowledge and consent. But the motive behind
it was overpowering. She shut her lips and said she "didn't care," and
once having definitely settled the question, she dismissed it, feeling
that she was very sinful, but also very happy.

Dic, of course, soon sought Billy Little, the ever ready receptacle of
his joys and sorrows.

No man loved the words, "I told you so," more dearly than Little, and
when Dic entered the store he was greeted with that irritating sentence
before he had spoken a word.

"You told me what?" asked Dic, pretending not to understand.

"Come, come," returned Billy, joyously, "I see it in your face. You know
what I mean. Don't try to appear more thick-headed than you are. Oh,
perhaps you are troubled with false modesty, and wish to hide the light
of a keen perception. Let it shine, Dic, let it shine. Hide it not.
Avoid the bushel."

Dic laughed and said: "Well, you were right; she did forgive me. Now
please don't continue to point out your superior wisdom. I see it
without your help. Get thee a bushel, Billy Little, lest you shine too
brightly."

"No insolence, young man, no insolence," retorted Billy, with a face
grave and serious, save for a joyful smile in his eyes.

"Close the store door, Billy Little," said Dic, after a few minutes of
conversation, "and come back to the room. I want to talk to you."

"The conceit of some people!" replied the happy merchant. "So you would
have me close my emporium for the sake of your small affairs?"

"Yes," responded Dic.

"Well, nothing wins like self-conceit," answered Billy. "Here's the key.
Lock the front door, and I'll be with you when I fold this bolt of India
silk."

Dic locked the door, Billy finished folding the India silk--a bolt of
two-bit muslin,--and the friends we