nning away. Oh! Mrs. West, you said
you would give me that pattern," she said suddenly.

"That pattern, dear," began Mrs. West, whilst Dorothy felt her cheeks
burn.

"Yes, don't you remember?"

"What pattern?" began Mrs. West, then conscious that Marjorie was
making hideous grimaces at her, she rose and walked towards the door,
leaving John Dene and Dorothy alone.

"No one would ever think you were married, Mrs. West," said Marjorie
severely, as they walked into the dining-room. "Don't you know that
young people want to be alone when they're only just engaged."

This with such a serious little air of womanly worldliness that Mrs.
West's smile almost developed into a laugh.

"Don't you think, Mrs. West, that God must be pleased when two nice
people come together?" said Marjorie gravely.

Mrs. West looked at her with slightly widening eyes, then recovering
herself, said, "God is always glad because of happiness, dear."

And Marjorie nodded her head as if in entire agreement with the
sentiment.

An hour later, when Marjorie had gone, Mrs. West entered the
drawing-room, having been sent in by Dorothy to entertain John Dene
whilst she wrote a letter.

After a few commonplaces they sat in silence, John Dene smoking
lustily, Mrs. West happy in her thoughts. It was the Good Lord, she
decided, who had ordained that Dorothy and John Dene should fall in
love with each other, and thus crown with happiness the autumn of her
days.

"I've been trying to figure out all the afternoon why she said
'shucks,'" John Dene suddenly burst in upon her thoughts in a way that
startled her.

"Said 'shucks!'" she repeated. Mrs. West had a habit of repeating a
phrase when not quite understanding it, or desirous of gaining time
before framing her reply.

"Sure."

"But who said 'shucks'?" she asked, lifting her brows in an endeavour
to comprehend, "and--what are 'shucks,' Mr. Dene?"

"Shucks," repeated John Dene in his turn, "shucks are--are----" He
paused, then as if determining that this was a side issue he added:
"When I told her to-day that I'd never had any use for girls,
and--and----" He looked at Mrs. West helplessly.

She smiled.

"She just said 'shucks.'"

"I think she must have meant that you were too modest," said Mrs. West
softly.

"Me modest!" John Dene sat up straight in his surprise.

"I think that is what she must have meant."

"I take it that down at the Admiralty they don't figure it out that