ent should be
obtained, and their betrothal acknowledged before all the world. Until
such a moment came an irksome deception colored their love and left
them in constant danger of discovery. Indeed, had the observer been
keen enough to interpret psychic phenomena, there was betrayal in the
soft light of Delight's eyes and in the grave tenderness of her face;
and as for Bob, he felt his great good-fortune must be emblazoned on
every feature of his countenance.

In point of fact, no such condition prevailed. The girl returned to
her home and took her place there, bringing with her her customary
buoyancy of spirit; and if her light-heartedness was more exaggerated
than was her wont, those who loved her attributed it to her joy at
being once more beneath her own roof-tree. Zenas Henry and the three
captains fluttered about her as if her absence had been one of years
rather than of days; and even Abbie, less demonstrative than the
others, showed by a quiet satisfaction her deep contentment at having
the girl back again.

Of course Robert Morton let no great length of time elapse before he
climbed the hill and invaded the Brewster home. As Celestina's nephew
and Willie's guest he had credentials enough to assure him of a
welcome, and for an interval these sufficed to give him an enviable
entree; but after a few calls, his winning personality secured for him
a place of his own. He inspected Captain Phineas Taylor's broken
compass and set it right; he discussed rheumatism and its woes with
Captain Benjamin Todd; he lent an attentive ear to the nautical
adventures of Captain Jonas Baker. Abbie, who was a systematic
housekeeper, approved of his habit of wiping his feet before he entered
the door and the careful fashion he had of replacing any chair he
moved; most men, she averred, were so thoughtless and untidy. But it
was with Zenas Henry that the young man won his greatest triumph, the
two immediately coming into harmony on the common ground of
motor-boating. Most of the male visitors who dropped in at the white
cottage came only to see Delight, but here was one who came to call on
the entire family. How charming it was! They liked him one and all;
how could they help it? And soon, so eagerly did they anticipate his
coming, any lapse in his visits caused keen disappointment.

"I kinder thought that Morton feller might be round this evenin',"
Captain Phineas would yawn in a dispirited tone, when twilight had
deep