was,
and how he talked, and told Katie stories, when she was afraid to have
her back fixed."

"He is a very estimable young man, and a true Christian, I think," said
Mrs. Dering, watching Bea's animated face as she talked, and noticing
that there was no touch of embarrassment or any trace of color, as she
rehearsed her friend's praise.

"When I gave him the flowers," added Bea, taking the posy from her belt,
and sniffing at the fragrant leaves, "he gave me these, and said we
would exchange. He has a little window-garden in his office. I think
that is so nice,--and these grew in it; they need some water now, poor
little things. Hand me that vase, Olive! There!"

Mrs. Dering went on with her sewing, and her heart, ever young, went
back to the blissful days of her own life, like these in which Bea now
lived, and she thought, with a smile:

"Bless the dear innocent little heart. She doesn't suspect yet how happy
she is, nor what precious meaning the little exchange of posies will
soon take unto themselves."

Olive was thinking of Bea's happy face and blithe laugh, and after her
sister had gone singing from the room, she came over to her mother's
side, and sat down on a stool there.

"Mama, are you glad?"

"Yes, dear, both glad and sad. A mother always dreads the time when she
must begin to prepare herself to have her children leave her; but it
must come, so if she can know that their new choice will bring them
happiness, it, of course, lessens the pain which comes with losing them.
Dr. Barnett is a good Christian, a perfect gentleman, and I think he
loves Beatrice. I also think she is quite unconscious of it as yet, and
I am very glad. I hope it will continue so. She is young yet, my dear
little girl, and when she becomes aware of the new love, then I must be
content with second place, and I do not want it to come yet."

"And, mama--"

"Well, dear."

"I want to speak of something that may be all imagination on my part,
and will take your word to settle it. But don't you think Ralph thinks a
great deal of Kittie?"

"Yes, he does; but it is all a brotherly feeling, anything else would be
nonsense! Why, they're nothing but children!" said Mrs. Dering a little
sharply.

"I know Kittie is, and she never thinks of such a thing any more than a
genuine kitten; but Ralph is twenty, mama," said Olive.

"I know; and very old for his age in many things, but at heart he is
nothing but a boy. He has always been at home