ain Bream, and although the dear Miss
Seawards are very fond of him, they will not pine or lose their health
because of his absence for a short time. Besides, have they not that
wonderful theological library to divert them?"

"Yes, mother--it's not that, but I was _so_ anxious to find out--"

She stopped short.

"Find out what, child?"

"Well now, mother, I can _not_ keep it from you any longer. I will tell
you my little secret if you promise not to reveal it to any living
soul."

"How absurd you are, Ruth! Do you suppose that I shall go about the
streets proclaiming your secret, whatever it is, to Tom, Dick, and
Harry, even if it were worth telling, much less when it is probably not
worth remembering? Of course I might let it slip, you know, by accident
and when a thing slips there is no possibility of recovery, as I said
once to your dear father that time when he slipped off the end of the
pier into the water and had to be fished up by the waist-band of his
trousers with grappling-irons, I think they called them--at all events
they were very dangerous-looking things, and I've often argued with
him--though I hate argument--that they might have gone into his body and
killed him, yet he would insist that, being blunt, the thing was out of
the question, though, as I carefully explained to him, the question had
nothing to do with it--but it is useless arguing with you, Ruth--I mean,
it was useless arguing with your father, dear man, for although he was
as good as gold, he had a very confused mind, you know. What was it we
were talking about?--oh yes!--your secret. Well, what is it?"

With a flushed face and eager look, Ruth said, "Mother, I _cannot_ help
being convinced that Mrs Bright the fisherman's wife, is no other than
Captain Bream's lost sister!"

"If you cannot help being convinced, child, it is of no use my
attempting to reason with you. But why think of such nonsense? If she
is what you suppose, she must have been a Miss Bream before marriage."

"So she was!" exclaimed Ruth, with a look of triumph. I have found that
out--only I fear that is not proof positive, because, you know, although
not a common name, Bream is by no means singular.

"Well, but she would have been a lady--or--or would have had different
manners if she had been Captain Bream's sister," objected Mrs Dotropy.

"That does not follow," said Ruth, quickly. "The captain may have risen
from the ranks; we cannot tell; besides, Mrs