spered the Imp.

Almost opposite our hiding-place Betty paused to sigh heavily and stare
up at the moon.

"Oh, Peter!" she murmured, "look at that there orb!"

"Ar!" said Peter, gazing obediently upward.

"Peter, ain't it 'eavenly; don't it stir your very soul?"

"Ar!" said Peter.

"Peter, are you sure you loves me more than that Susan thing at the
doctor's?" A corduroy coat-sleeve crept slowly about Betty's plump
waist, and there came the unmistakable sound of a kiss.

"Really and truly, Peter?"

"Ar!" said Peter, "so 'elp me Sam!" The kissing sound was repeated,
and they walked on once more, only closer than ever now on account of
the corduroy coat-sleeve.

"Those two are in love, you know," nodded the Imp. "Peter says the
cheese-cakes she makes are enough to drive any man into marrying her,
whether he wants to or not, an' I heard Betty telling Jane that she
adored Peter, 'cause he had so much soul! Why is it," he inquired,
thoughtfully, as he watched the two out of sight, "why is it, Uncle
Dick, that people in love always look so silly?"

"Do you think so?" I asked, as I paused to light my pipe.

"'Course I do!" returned the Imp; "what's any one got to put their arm
round girls for, just as if they wanted holding up--I think it's
awfull' silly!"

"Of course it is, Imp--your wisdom is unassailable--still, do you know,
I can understand a man being foolish enough to do it--occasionally."

"But you never would, Uncle Dick?"

"Alas, Imp!" I said, shaking my head, "Fortune seems to preclude all
chances of it."

"'Course you wouldn't," he exclaimed; "an' Ivanhoe wouldn't--"

"Ah, but he did!" I put in; "have you forgotten Rowena?"

"Oh!" cried the Imp dolefully, "do you really think he ever put his arm
round her?"

"Sure of it," I nodded. The Imp seemed much cast down, and even
shocked.

"But there was the Black Knight," he said, brightening
suddenly--"Richard of the Lion Heart, you know--he never did!"

"Not while he was fighting, of course, but afterwards, if history is to
be believed, he very frequently did; and we are all alike,
Imp--everybody does sooner or later."

"But why? Why should any one want to put their arm round a girl, Uncle
Dick?"

"For the simple reason that the girl is there to put it round, I
suppose. And now, Imp, let us talk of fish."

Instinctively we had wandered towards the river, and now we stood to
watch the broad, silver path made by the moon across the myster