like you, Martha, you never believe in any one's eyes but
your own. Here's the glass, look for yourself. If that isn't a man, and
a young man, and a stylish, handsome man, my name isn't Maria Peters."

"You'd be very glad if your name wasn't Peters," replied the irate
sister. "But I fear me there's little likelihood of your changing it
now. Ah, here's Beatrice Meadowsweet. Good-morning, Bee, my dear. How's
your dear mother? Is her poor precious cough any better?"

"Come here, Bee," said Miss Peters. "Come over to the window this
minute, and use your young eyes. Who are those people in Dan Driver's
boat? There, you tell Martha, she wont believe me."

"Those are the Bertrams," exclaimed Beatrice.

She put up her hand to shade her eyes, and took a long steadfast look
over the shining water.

"Those are the Bertrams, and of course, their brother."

"Oh, my dear Bee, how you have relieved me!" exclaimed Mrs. Butler.

She re-seated herself on a settee which stood near, and took her
handkerchief to wipe out some wrinkles of anxiety from her stout face.

Beatrice stared in astonishment.

"I don't quite understand," she said.

"My dear! I feared something improper was going on. A young man, not a
relation, out alone on the water with two girls! That's the kind of
thing we don't allow, in Northbury, Bee. Now, what's the matter?"

"Look," said Beatrice, "look! They are putting up the sail, and they are
not doing it right. They oughtn't all three to stand up in the boat
together. It will capsize! Oh, I must fly to them. Good-bye, Mrs.
Butler. Mother would like to see you at tea, to-night. Good-bye, Miss
Peters."

She rushed away, and the next moment was down on the quay. Three moments
later she was speeding with swift long strokes across the harbor in her
own beautifully appointed row-boat.

Her dress was of dark blue serge, with white collar and cuffs. Her hat
was a simple sailor one. The exercise brought the color into her cheeks,
and her big somewhat pathetic gray eyes were bright.

"There she goes!" exclaimed Miss Peters. "Never saw such a girl. Doesn't
she handle her oars with a touch? Oh, of course she is off to the rescue
of those poor bunglers. And I daresay they don't think her good enough
to speak to."

"Good enough!" exclaimed Mrs. Butler. "She's twice too good for any one
of them. Didn't her dress fit neat, Maria? Well, I hope she won't get
let in by their fine ways. For my part, I'm not going to take a