the steps.

"Who _are_ those extraordinary people?" she whispered to her mother.

"I'm sure I don't know, my dear. How intolerably hot it is. Really our
good Rector ought not to ask us to submit to the fierce rays of the sun
during this intense weather. Georgiana, pray keep in the shade. Yes,
Mrs. Bertram, you must find the absence of all society a drawback here."

"I sha'n't stay here long," responded Mrs. Bertram. "Catherine is still
so young that she does not want society. Ah, there is Loftus. I should
like to introduce him. Loftus, come here."

Captain Bertram, raising his hat to the Bells as he passed, approached
his mother's side. He was introduced in due form to Lady Verney and the
Lady Georgiana, and the two young people, retiring a little into the
background, began to chat.

"Who are those extraordinary folk?" asked Lady Georgiana of her
companion.

She waved her fan in the direction of Mrs. Bell's fat back.

"Do you know them, Captain Bertram?"

His eyes fairly danced with mirth as he swept them over the little
group.

"I must confess something, Lady Georgiana. I do know those young ladies
and their mother. I have supped with them."

"Oh, horrors! And yet, how entertaining. What were they like?"

"Like themselves."

"That is no answer. Do divert me with an account of them all. I am sure
they are deliciously original. I should like to sketch that mother's
broad back beyond anything."

It was at this moment that Beatrice and Catherine appeared together on
the scene. Captain Bertram, who thought himself an adept in a certain
mild, sarcastic description, was about to gratify Lady Georgiana with a
graphic account of the Bells' supper-table, when his gaze met the kind,
clear, happy expression of Beatrice Meadowsweet's eyes. He felt his
heart stir within him. The Bells were her friends, and she was so good,
bless her--the best girl he had ever met. No, he could not, he would
not, turn them into fun, just to while away an idle five minutes.

Mrs. Bertram called Catherine over to introduce her to Lady Verney, and
Bertram, in a moment, was by Beatrice's side.

"This is lucky," he said. "I thought you had left me for the day."

"Why should you think that?" she replied. "It would be impossible for
people not constantly to come against each other in a small place like
this."

"May I come with you now? You seem very busy."

"You can come and help me if you feel inclined. I always have a great
deal t