arf?" she asked immediately after
luncheon. "Harvey Baker asked me to fish with him. He's a neighbor's
boy I met Saturday."

"Well, I declare. Why didn't you tell me before?"

"I forgot." She had had so many things to think of and talk about,
that she had not thought much about Harvey except at night. Then that
awful alligator haunted her until she wanted to call her mamma, but she
had not dared because of her promise.

"May I go, mamma?"

"But I do not know anything about him. He may not be nice at all."

Maggie, who chanced to be present, now spoke up:

"De Bakers am quality, Miss Mary. I wouldn't be feared to let missy go
wid any Baker. I'se s'prised, do, dat Harvey axed her, 'cause he don't
like girls. Are yo' sure, honey, he axed yo'?"

"Of course I am."

"Den yo' needn't fear, Miss Mary. Harvey's a big boy, and he'll take
good care of her."

With this assurance, Mrs. Davenport gave her consent.

Beth put on her hat and hurried down the avenue to the river. On the
end of the wharf sat Harvey, holding a fishing pole. He turned his
head at her approach.

"Hello, Beth. I hardly expected you. I thought your mamma might be
'fraid to let you come."

She smiled. "Maggie said you were 'quality,' and would take care of
me."

Harvey gave a grunt. "Don't know about quality, but as long as your
mamma trusted me, she shan't repent. Take this line, and go to
fishing."

He handed one to her and she dropped the end into the water. Harvey
broke into a hearty laugh.

"You don't 'spect to catch fish without bait, do you?"

She answered meekly: "I s'pose not, but what is bait?"

Harvey laughed harder than ever. "Well, you are silly."

Beth felt aggrieved over being called silly, but she tried to look
dignified.

"Don't care, you're just as silly as me. My papa says if people don't
keep quiet, they'll scare all the fish away. You're laughing awful
loud."

He immediately sobered down. "True for you, Beth. It is silly to
laugh and you're a wise girl. You'll make a good fisher. Here, I'll
put the bait on for you."

He baited her line and threw it out into deep water for her.

She waited patiently for the fish to bite, but it seemed as if her
patience was to go unrewarded. She wished for Harvey's good opinion,
and so she did not even speak. It proved pretty dull work and to make
matters worse, Harvey pulled in a number of fish, while she did not get
even a nibble.

She would have