leine, had married, but Mrs. Curtis
was determined that the little captain should learn to be less impetuous
and more conventional.

"Philip Holt has told you something about me, hasn't he, Mrs. Curtis?"
asked Madge meekly, hiding the flash in her eyes by lowering her lids.

"Philip told me very little. He is the soul of honor," answered Mrs.
Curtis quickly. "You are absurdly prejudiced against him. But with the
little that he told me and what I have gathered from other sources, I
feel that you have been most indiscreet. I can't help thinking that the
various things that have happened may be laid at your door, and that the
other girls have just stood by you, as they always do."

Madge bit her lips. "Whatever has occurred that you don't like is my
fault, Mrs. Curtis," she confessed, "and Phil, Lillian and Nellie _have_
stood by me. I am sorry that you are angry."

The other young people were coming closer. Not for worlds would Madge
have had them overhear her conversation with Mrs. Curtis. She was too
proud and too hurt to ask Mrs. Curtis just what Philip Holt had said
against her. Neither would she retaliate against him by telling her
friend of his rudeness.

Mrs. Curtis put one arm about Madge. "It is all right, my dear," she
said, softening a little, "but you must promise me that you will not do
such harum-scarum things again, and that you will try to keep your
temper." Mrs. Curtis was on the point of asking Madge to give up her
acquaintance with the sailor and not to see the man again, but she knew
that her young friend was feeling a little hurt and no doubt resentful
toward her, so she put off making her request until a later time.

"Tania has behaved very well, so far, hasn't she, Madge?" Mrs. Curtis
tactfully changed the subject. "I confess I am surprised. Philip Holt
assured me that the child was continually in mischief in the tenement
neighborhood where she lives. When he took her into the neighborhood
house to try to help her she positively stole something. I am afraid
Tania's mother was not the woman you think she was; she was only a cheap
little actress, a dancer." Mrs. Curtis glanced at her companion. Madge
was eyeing her seriously.

"It isn't like you, Mrs. Curtis, dear, to say things against people.
Philip Holt must have----" Madge stopped abruptly. At the same time Tom
Curtis came up from behind to join his mother and the girl.

"Come on, Madge, and have a race with me across the sands," he urged.