but Rose herself, at her last peep in
the glass, had thought that she looked very nicely indeed;
and so it would appear thought Ensign Squeaker (of the
Household Pigade), who, with his regimental sword by his
side, and his pocket telescope in his hand, sauntered along
the pathway, _merely_ to enjoy the beauty of the evening,
and inhale the fresh breezes from the ocean. How it happened
that Young Squeaker and Miss Rose met at the corner of the
cliff, just as the village clock struck the half-past seven,
no one knows; certain only it is that they did meet; and
that after the interchange of the usual compliments, Miss
Rose accepted Mr. Squeaker's proffered arm, and that the
pair wandered about by the sea-shore until the moon rose;
and Miss Rose, in great trepidation at finding it so late,
desired her companion to escort her home. Nor is it known
what Mr. Squeaker said when he bade a fond adieu to his dear
Rose, nor for how long after Rose sat in her arbour in the
garden and watched the bats flitting across the moon.

It was noticed by the sisters that Rose was very quiet all
the next day, and that at times a tear stood in the corner
of her eye, which she would wipe away, sighing. Many were
the sly allusions to the note of the previous afternoon and
the long evening walk, and no one tormented poor Rose with
her insinuations more than Paulina, who was for some cause
in a most unusual flow of spirits. After tea, Rose took down
her treasured volume, "Pussicat's Poems," and retiring to
the garden, read the tenderest parts. Violet, overcome with
the fatigue of a recent mouse-hunt, went to sleep on the
sofa; the younger ones busied themselves with their crochet
and net-work; and Miss Paulina, saying she was going to call
on a neighbour, with her best lace-bordered handkerchief in
her hand, sallied forth and took her way towards the forest.
Now it so happened that young Marten Sable was leaning
against a tree, tapping his heel with his cane, and
meditating very profoundly at the entrance of the very walk
towards which Paulina bent her steps. He started at her
approach, and with a sad but eager countenance ran to meet
her.

"What has happened, Marten," cried Paulina, "that you look
so miserable? tell me directly, I implore you;" and placing
her hand on his arm, she looked piteously in his face.
Marten hung his head and seemed overcome with grief; at last
he said in a low husky voice, "We must part, Paulina; but it
will be o