lty that
Cousin Hans could even give short and commonplace answers; it seemed
as though all that had interested him in Captain Schrappe had entirely
evaporated. And now Hans remembered that on the way home from the
esplanade he had promised to give him the whole sham fight in Sweden
after supper.

"Will you come, please; supper is ready," said Miss Betty, opening the
door into the dining-room, which was lighted with candles.

Cousin Hans could not help eating, for he was hungry; but he looked down
at his plate and spoke little.

Thus the conversation was at first confined for the most part to the
father and daughter. The captain, who thought that this bashful young
man was embarrassed by Miss Betty's presence, wanted to give him time to
collect himself.

"How is it you haven't invited Miss Beck this evening, since she's
leaving town to-morrow," said the old man. "You two could have
entertained our guest with some duets."

"I asked her to stay, when she was here this afternoon; but she was
engaged to a farewell party with some other people she knows."

Cousin Hans pricked up his ears; could this be the lady of the morning
that they were speaking about?

"I told you she came down to the esplanade to say good-bye to me,"
continued the captain. "Poor girl! I'm really sorry for her."

There could no longer be any doubt.

"I beg your pardon--are you speaking of a lady with curly hair and large
blue eyes?" asked Cousin Hans.

"Exactly," answered the captain, "do you know Miss Beck?"

"No," answered Hans, "it only occurred to me that it might be a lady I
met down on the esplanade about twelve o'clock."

"No doubt it was she" said the captain. "A pretty girl, isn't she?"

"I thought her beautiful," answered Hans, with conviction. "Has she had
any trouble?--I thought I heard you say--"

"Well, yes; you see she was engaged for some months"--

"Nine weeks," interrupted Miss Betty.

"Indeed! was that all? At any rate her _fiance_ has just broken off the
engagement, and that's why she is going away for a little while--very
naturally--to some relations in the west-country, I think."

So she had been engaged--only for nine weeks, indeed--but still, it was
a little disappointing. However, Cousin Hans understood human nature,
and he had seen enough of her that morning to know that her feelings
towards her recreant lover could not have been true love. So he said:

"If it's the lady I saw to-day, she seemed to take th