his uncle, at any rate," said Mr. Porson, with a sudden
access of dignity.

"You don't mind, Fred, do you?" asked Miss Tipping, anxiously.

"I'd put up with more than that for your sake," said Flower. "I needn't
tell people."

"That's all very fine," said Mrs. Tipping, taking up the cudgels for
the speechless and glaring victim of these pleasantries, "but there's no
mystery about your uncle; everybody knows _him_. _He_ doesn't disappear
just as he is going to get married, and be brought back in a cab months
afterwards. _He_ isn't full of secrets he mustn't tell people who ought
to know."

"Never kep' a secret in my life," agreed Uncle Porson, whose head was
buzzing under this unaccustomed praise.

"I know quite eno'ugh about Fred," said Miss Tipping, tenderly; "when I
want your opinion, mar, I'll ask you for it."

Mrs. Tipping's reply was interrupted by the entrance of a young man
from the jeweller's with four brooches for Flower to present to the
bridesmaids. Mrs. Tipping had chosen them, and it did not take the
hapless skipper long to arrive at the conclusion that she was far fonder
of bridesmaids than he was. His stock of money was beginning to dwindle,
and the purchase of a second wedding suit within a month was beginning
to tell even upon his soaring spirits.

"There's another thing about Fred I don't quite like," said Mrs.
Tipping, as she sat with the brooches ranged upon her capacious lap;
"he's extravagant. I don't like a mean man, but one who flings his money
away is almost as bad. These 'ere brooches are very pretty, and they
do him credit, but I can't say but what something cheaper wouldn't 'ave
done as well."

"I thought you liked them," said the indignant Flower.

"I like them well enough," said Mrs. Tipping, solemnly; "there's nothing
to dislike in them. Seems to me they must have cost a lot of money,
that's all--I suppose I may make a remark!"

Flower changed the subject, and turning to Miss Tipping began to speak
in a low voice of their new home. Miss Tipping wanted a sort of Eden
with bar improvements, and it was rather difficult to find.

They had discussed the matter before, and the wily skipper had almost
quarrelled with his bride-elect over the part of the country in which
they were to live, Miss Tipping holding out for the east coast, while
Flower hotly championed the south. Mrs. Tipping, with some emphasis,
had suggested leaving it until after the honeymoon, but a poetic
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