breast, but hoped to
induce her to expostulate gently with Dic about the attentions he
permitted himself to receive from the dimpler. For a minute or two his
words caused a feeling of troubled jealousy in Rita's heart, but she
soon dismissed it as unworthy of her, and unjust to Dic and Sukey. To
that young lady she wrote: "I am not permitted to nurse him, and I thank
you for taking my place. I shall remember your goodness so long as I
live."

The letter should have aroused in Sukey's breast high impulses and pure
motives; but it brought from her red lips, amid their nest of dimples,
the contemptuous expletive "Fool," and I am not sure that she was
entirely wrong. A due respect for the attractiveness and willingness of
her sisters is wise in a woman. Rita's lack of wisdom may be excused
because of the fact that her trust in Sukey was really a part of her
faith in Dic.

Thus it came to pass that Dic did not go to New York, but was confined
to his home for several months with a fractured thigh bone. During that
period Rita was in constant prayer and Sukey in daily attendance. The
dimpler's never ceasing helpfulness to Dic and his mother won his
gratitude, while the dangerous twinkling of the dimples and the pretty
sheen of her skin became familiar to him as household gods. He had never
respected the girl, nor was his respect materially augmented by her
kindness, which at times overleaped itself; but his gratitude increased
his affection, and his sentiment changed from one of almost repugnance
to a kindly feeling of admiration for her seductive beauty, regard for
her kindly heart, and pleasure in her never failing good temper.

Sukey still clung to her dominion over several hearts, receiving them
upon their allotted evenings; and although she had grown passionately
fond of Dic, she gave a moiety of kindness to her subjects, each in his
turn. She easily convinced each that he was the favored one, and that
the others were friends and were simply tolerated. She tried no such
coquetry with Dic, but gladly fed upon such crumbs as he might throw
her. If he unduly withheld the crumbs, she, unable to resist her
yearning for the unattainable, at times lost all maidenly reserve, and
by eloquent little signs and pleadings sought them at the hand of her
Dives. The heart of a coquette is to be won only by running away from
it, and Dic's victory over Sukey was achieved in retreat.

During Dic's illness Tom's heart, quickened doubtles