ossession of which she had always envied her sister. It was an
exhibition of female weakness entirely unexpected by Tom Allyne, and
for some reason pleased him wonderfully. He turned from one to the
other, full of hypocritical glee, though the face he then bent upon
Dwight was severe in the extreme.

"See here, sir! Don't you know better than to say such things? Why,
you as much as insinuate that one or the other of these young ladies
has a blemish! Now that--"

"See here!" broke out poor Dwight, not entirely sure who was most
abusing him, "who set me up to saying what I did, anyhow? I think it's
downright mean for you all to turn on a fellow so! You all promised
not to be mad, and now see you!"

"You are right," said Faith, turning quickly. "I am ashamed of myself
for minding such a trifle! But I do sometimes get tired of being
reminded that Hope is so much nicer and jollier than I."

"And I that Faith is so much more refined and ladylike!" added the
other. Then both broke into laughter, Hope's white teeth and deep
dimple showing plainly, and Faith's half-sad sweetness veiling her
merriment to a tamer expression.

"It would spoil everything if you were either of you one whit
different," cried Allyne, with fervor. "And, Dwight, I want to thank
you for letting me into your little secret. I can never be deceived
again."

"Are you certain of that?" asked Mr. Carnegie, as he joined the group.
"I wish I could be so sure! But come, let's drop personalities. I've
been sent to ask you to join a reading-club--"

"A reading-club?" shouted everybody.

"Yes. It is Mrs. Poinsett's hour to read to Lady Moreham, and she
kindly suggested our joining them. Would you like to?"

"Lady Moreham? How wonderful!" murmured Allyne, and the sisters
exchanged meaning glances.

But Dwight looked dubious.

"I'd rather hear one of Quint's yarns," he remarked, frankly.

Quint was a good-natured sailor, with a broad saber cut on one cheek
that would have ruined his looks for some, but made him only the more
interesting to Dwight. Besides, he had a capacity for reeling off
yarns, that was irresistible, and even Hope's charms paled before his
rarer attractions.

The boy now went below to find the man, and the girls started with
Carnegie for the main saloon. After a few steps the latter looked back
over his shoulder, and saw Allyne gazing somewhat moodily after them.

"Aren't you coming?" he asked pleasantly, turning