it must be confessed, had at this point an instinctive
remembrance of Mrs. Beck's love for dismal tales, so she hastened to
change the subject of conversation. Mrs. Beck was very kind-hearted when
any one was ill or in trouble. Betty herself had a grateful memory of
such devotion when she had a long childish illness once at Aunt
Barbara's, but Mary Beck's mother never seemed to take half the pleasure
in cheerful things and in well people who went about their every-day
affairs. It seemed a good chance now to open the little package of
presents. There were two pretty Roman cravats, and a carved Swiss box
with a quantity of French chocolate in it, and a nice cake of violet
soap, and a pretty ivory pin carved like an edelweiss, like one that
Betty herself wore; for the captain there was a photograph of Bergen
harbor in Norway, with all manner of strange vessels at the wharves.
Then for Mrs. Beck Betty had brought a pretty handkerchief with some
fine embroidery round the edge. It was a charming little heap of things.
"I have been getting them at different times and keeping them until I
came," said Betty.

Mary Beck was delighted, as well she might be, and yet it was very hard
to express any such feeling. Somehow the awkward feeling with which she
went to make the call that afternoon was again making her dreadfully
uncomfortable.

The old captain was friendly and smiling, and Mary and her mother said
"Thank you," a good many times, but Mrs. Beck took half the pleasure
away by a sigh and lament that her girl couldn't make any return.

"It's the best return to be so glad to see each other, Becky!" said
Betty Leicester, suddenly turning to her friend and blushing a good deal
as they kissed one another, while the old captain gave a satisfied
_humph_ and turned to his newspaper again.

Mrs. Beck was really much pleased, and yet was overwhelmed with a
suspicion that Betty thought her ungrateful. She was sorry that if there
were going to be a handkerchief it had not been one with a black border,
but after all this was a pretty one and very fine; it would be just
right for Mary by and by.

The old cat seemed to know the young visitor, and came presently purring
very loud and rubbing against Betty's gown, and was promptly lifted
into her lap for a little patting and cuddling before she must run back
again to the aunts. This cat had been known to Betty as a young kitten,
and she and Becky had sometimes dressed her with a neat whit