ee that for
yourself, can't you?" he asked, hoping that this question would induce
her to glance at him and observe his tears.

"Why, no," she answered, "I can't because my eyes are closed. But if you
say so, I suppose you must be correct."

"Belinda, I love you," said he.

"Thank you very much," answered she. "Isn't it extraordinary weather for
this time of the year? I can hardly believe that we are in the middle
of summer."

Poor Jack left in despair, and this time he whistled a funeral march.

But like a true-hearted sailor, he resolved to try again. So the next
day he said to her:

"Belinda, I'm afraid we are going to have heavy weather, there are so
many clouds overhead. Look up out of the sky-light and you will see for
yourself."

"I would rather not," she said, keeping her eyes tightly closed. "I
don't like seeing clouds; it depresses my spirits."

"You can look out of the sky-light _now_," he said to her later,
"without being afraid of seeing the clouds. They have all cleared away
and it is blue again."

"Then I can enjoy my afternoon nap," she remarked simply, "without fear
of thunder."

And on this occasion the poor curly-headed Sailor felt too miserable
even to attempt whistling; he went away in dumb despair!

It was just about this time that Mademoiselle Cerise was bought by a
lady as a present for her little god-daughter.

"But the color of the doll's dress has become faded," said the lady.
"She must have a new one before I take her."

"That can easily be arranged in a day," said the owner of the shop.

"Very well," answered the lady, "then I will buy her. You need not send
her. I will bring my little friend with me to-morrow afternoon when we
shall be passing your shop. She will like to carry her new doll through
the streets."

Next morning when Mademoiselle Cerise was brought back to the shop after
having been absent since the previous afternoon, the Sailor-Lad was
struck by something very familiar about the appearance of her new blue
muslin dress. At first he could not think why. Then he understood; the
muslin was--so it seemed to him--of exactly the same pattern and
exactly the same color as Belinda's dress.

As he realized this a sudden thought struck him, upon which he acted
without delay.

Coming up to Belinda softly, who was sitting with her eyes closed, he
exclaimed loudly and suddenly in her ear: "Belinda, Belinda!
Mademoiselle Cerise has on a dress precisely like yours!"