ion of interest which more than confirmed the favorable
impression that he had already produced on Catherine. She was on the
point of asking if he was married, and had children of his own, when
Kitty came back, and declared the right address to be Buck's Hotel,
Sydenham. "Mamma puts things down for fear of forgetting them," she
added. "Will you put down Buck?"

The Captain took out his pocketbook, and appealed pleasantly to Mrs.
Norman. "May I follow your example?" he asked. Catherine not only
humored the little joke, but, gratefully remembering his kindness, said:
"Don't forget, when you are in London, that Kitty's invitation is my
invitation, too." At the same moment, punctual Mrs. Presty looked at her
watch, and reminded her daughter that railways were not in the habit of
allowing passengers to keep them waiting. Catherine rose, and gave her
hand to the Captain at parting. Kitty improved on her mother's form of
farewell; she gave him a kiss and whispered a little reminder of her
own: "There's a river in London--don't forget your boat."

Captain Bennydeck opened the door for them, secretly wishing that he
could follow Mrs. Norman to the station and travel by the same train.

Mrs. Presty made no attempt to remind him that she was still in the
room. Where her family interests were concerned, the old lady was
capable (on very slight encouragement) of looking a long way into
the future. She was looking into the future now. The Captain's social
position was all that could be desired; he was evidently in easy
pecuniary circumstances; he admired Catherine and Catherine's child. If
he only proved to be a single man, Mrs. Presty's prophetic soul, without
waiting an instant to reflect, perceived a dazzling future. Captain
Bennydeck approached to take leave. "Not just yet," pleaded the most
agreeable of women; "my luggage was ready two hours ago. Sit down again
for a few minutes. You seem to like my little granddaughter."

"If I had such a child as that," the Captain answered, "I believe I
should be the happiest man living."

"Ah, my dear sir, all isn't gold that glitters," Mrs. Presty remarked.
"That proverb must have been originally intended to apply to children.
May I presume to make you the subject of a guess? I fancy you are not a
married man."

The Captain looked a little surprised. "You are quite right," he said;
"I have never been married."

At a later period, Mrs. Presty owned that she felt an inclination
to rew