l, anyhow the
town is full of it. When I went out yesterday Mrs. Morris asked me
point-blank if I hadn't news for her, and Miss Peters has taken so
frightfully to rolling her eyes whenever Matty and Captain Bertram are
seen together, that I'm quite afraid she will contract a regular squint.
How long was he with Matty on the green last night, Alice?"

"About half-an-hour, I should say," responded Alice. "They walked round
the Green five times, with me and Sophy doing gooseberry behind. I don't
think Matty stopped laughing for a single minute, and the captain he did
quiz her frightfully."

"Poor man, he was trying to wheedle her heart out of her!" remarked the
gratified mother. "And he has all my sympathies, and what's more, we
must have him to supper, and lobsters and crabs, and anything else he
fancies. It isn't for me to be hard-hearted, and not give the poor
fellow his opportunities; and no doubt Matty will relent by-and-bye."

"Oh, dear me, mother, she has relented now. She's only waiting and dying
for him to pop the question."

"If I were you, Alice, I wouldn't make so light of your own sister. Of
course she is gratified by being spoken to and appreciated, but if you
think a girl of mine is going to let herself down cheap--well, she'll be
very different metal from her mother before her. Three times Bell had to
go on his knees for me, and he thought all the more of me for having to
do it. If I'm not mistaken, there are some in this town who are jealous
of Matty. Who would have thought that handsome friend of yours, Bee
Meadowsweet, would be looked over and made nothing of, and my girl be
the favored one? Well, I must own I'm pleased, and so will her father
be, too. It's a nice genteel connection, and they say there's lots of
money somewhere in the background.--Oh, is that you, Matty?--Goodness,
child, don't get your face so burnt,--you shouldn't go out without a
veil in the sun. Now come here, pet, sit down and keep cool, and I'll
bring in some buttermilk presently to bathe your neck and cheeks.
There's nothing like buttermilk for burns. Well, well, what were we
talking about, Alice, when Matty came in?"

"About the person we're always talking about," replied Alice, rather
crossly. "About Captain Bertram. Good gracious, Matty, it isn't at all
becoming to you to flame up in that sudden way. Lor' ma, look at her,
she's the color of a peony."

[It may be remarked in passing that the Bells did not echo one another