el drew a long breath. "There ain't much doubt of that," he
observed. "But, all right, Serena, if you and Mr. Hungerford think it's
all right, I guess it is. I'm more used to hirin' sailors than I am
folks to play the harp."

"Music," went on Mr. Hungerford, "is almost a necessity, in these days,
when everyone dances. Is this a formal reception, or had you intended
clearing a floor for dancing, Mrs. Dott?"

Mrs. Dott had not intended any such thing; she had not thought of it.
But she concealed the fact from her visitor with remarkable presence of
mind.

"Oh, of course!" she said.

The conversation continued, a conversation limited to Mr. Hungerford and
his hostess, while Captain Dan remained a silent and amazed listener.
The young gentleman was invited to attend the reception, Serena making
many apologies for the informality of the invitation, and the guest
expressing himself as delighted.

"Of course," he said, "I wouldn't intrude for the world, but I don't
feel like an intruder in this house, where I have spent so many happy
hours. Feeling as I do, I'm going to make another suggestion which,
under different circumstances, might be considered an impertinence. I am
at leisure to-morrow--in fact, all this week--and if there is anything
that I can do to help you and Cousin Daniel, in this matter of the
reception or any other, I shall be at your service. I do hope you
will permit me to help and that you will not consider me presuming in
offering to do so."

It was quite evident that the offer was very welcome. Mrs. Dott
accepted it with enthusiasm and called upon her husband to confirm the
acceptance. He did so, but with less warmth, and it was agreed that the
obliging Mr. Hungerford should drop in the next morning after calling
upon his protege, the violinist. A half hour later he said "Good-night,"
and departed.

"There!" said Serena. "If that isn't Providence, then I don't know. And
it only goes to show how one person can misjudge another without
knowing anything about him. I've always had a prejudice against that Mr.
Hungerford simply because of what you told me of meeting him years ago,
and now I don't think I ever met a kinder, nicer young man. Did you,
Daniel?"

The captain hesitated. "I--I," he stammered, "well, Serena, I will give
in that he seemed nice and obligin' enough to-night, but you see there's
just one thing that--"

Serena turned on him. "Yes, I know," she said. "There's always 'one
thing' a