. Beatrice was very nearly angry. A flush of color
crimsoned her cheeks and brow, and an indignant light flashed from her
eyes. In time, however, she was able to murmur to herself: "This is only
Mrs. Bell's talk, and how could I be so silly as to mind Mrs. Bell?" So
after a pause she said with effort, "I must congratulate Matty on her
engagement; I am glad Matty is happy."

"Ah, my dear, and well she may be! Glad should I be to know that other
girls had half so bright a future before them. Rich, handsome, and
young, that's what Gusty is! Devoted! he's like one of the old knights
for devotion. I have had my qualms about the jealousy of his nature, but
otherwise Gusty is, _song pear and song reproach_."

At this moment the door was opened, some childish giggles and mirth were
heard in the passage, and Matty rushed in, followed by the redoubtable
Gusty. "Oh, Gus, you'll kill me!" she exclaimed; "you are too funny.
Why, ma, is that you? And--and--Bee? How do you do, Bee?"

Matty came over and kissed her friend awkwardly.

"I am very glad to hear of your happiness, Matty," said Beatrice; "and I
congratulate you, too, Augustus," she added, turning to the bashful
swain.

"Oh, you want us to leave this room to yourselves, you two naughty
things!" said the mother, shaking her head in fat ecstasy over her two
turtle-doves. "Come, Bee; by-the-way, there's a young girl upstairs, a
Miss Hart, a friend of mine, who is very anxious to see you."

Mrs. Bell and Beatrice left the drawing-room, and Augustus Jenkins
turned to his fiancee "By Jove," he said, "that girl _is_ a bouncer!"

"What girl?" said Matty, in a quick jealous voice. She had flung herself
in a languid attitude on the sofa, now she sat bolt upright.

"Killing, I call her," proceeded Gus; "simply killing. Such an eye, such
a curl of the lip! By Jove--she'd bowl any fellow over."

Matty flushed deeply, and turned her head away to look out of the
window.

"What's up, now, little duck?" said the lover. "Oh, she's jealous, is
she? By George, that's a good un! You were in luck, missy, to come in my
way first, or I don't know what mightn't have happened; and she's got
lots of the tin, too, I've been told! So she's Captain Bertram's fancy.
Well, he's a good judge and no mistake."

"I don't know that she's his fancy at all, Gusty. Ma always said that
I--I--"

"Oh, by Jove! Matty, don't you try to come it over me like that. What a
thunder-cloud? So she's frightfully j