oston.

"You have come just at the right time," said Berinthia, welcoming her
with a kiss, "for I am to be launched day after to-morrow."

Seeing by the look of wonder on Rachel's face that she was not
understood, Berinthia explained that the ship her father was building
was to bear her name, and that everything was ready for the launching.

"Oh, it will be so delightful to have you here!" she added. "We will
be on the deck, ever so many of us,--my friends, papa's and mamma's
and Tom's. Ruth Newville will be here; and Tom's classmate in Harvard
College, Roger Stanley, who lives out beyond Lexington, is coming.
He's a real nice young man, and I am sure you will like him. Tom's
girl will be here, Mary Shrimpton; she is out in the kitchen now. She
has been helping us make crumpets, crullers, gingerbread, and cake.
Father and mother intend to make it a grand affair, and have invited
half of the town,--doctors, lawyers, ministers, and their wives;
everybody that is anybody. Tom has invited his friends, and I mine,
because the ship is to bear my name."

Rachel said she was glad she had come to see and enjoy it all.

"We will have a jolly time while you are here; it is vacation at
college, and I shan't have to study," said Tom.

A young lady with a pleasant face, light blue eyes, and soft brown
hair, entered the room and was introduced as Miss Shrimpton.

"She has been helping us get ready, and has rolled out a bushel of
crullers," said Tom.

"Not quite so many," said Miss Shrimpton, smiling.

Robert thought her very attractive and pleasing.

"I think I will go home now; father and mother will be expecting me,
but I will be round to-morrow," said Miss Shrimpton.

Tom put on his hat and escorted her. When he returned, and he and
Robert were by themselves, he said that she was the best girl in
Boston.

"Her father," he went on, "is a red-hot Tory. He lives in a fine
house, owns thousands of acres of land out in the country, thinks King
George a saint, ordained of God to rule us; that Sam Adams and Doctor
Warren are tricksters fooling the people for their own benefit. But
Mary is just the nicest girl you ever saw. She has no mother, runs the
house for her father, keeps everything as neat as a pin, and by and
by, after I get through at Harvard and am in possession of my
sheepskin with A. B. on it, she will be Mrs. Tom Brandon."

Robert congratulated Tom upon his engagement.

The next morning saw Robert in the mark