t look
it, does she?"

"Now, Cap'n, don't git another spell o' the shallers," put in Mrs. Lem
as the old man's chuckles threatened a crescendo.

"But you see I got ahead of the other relations," went on Thinkright.
"I am her mother's cousin, and I put in my claim first."

"Oh, you'll like Judge Trent so much," said Edna, looking at the grave
face in its aureole of curls. "He is a dear, but nobody dares to tell
him so. By the way, Thinkright," the quaint name fell charmingly from
the girl's lips as she turned to him, "I hear that a man I used to
know, a Mr. Dunham, has gone into Judge Trent's office."

"So you know Dunham, do you?" returned her host.

"Yes, for a long time we saw a great deal of each other. Then Harvard
for him and Vassar for me drifted us apart, but we have a lot of mutual
friends, and while I was in New York the past winter a girl wrote me
mournfully of his departure from Boston."

"I don't blame her for mourning," said Thinkright kindly,--"do you,
Sylvia?" turning to the young girl, who was mortified to feel her color
mounting again. "Sylvia knows Mr. Dunham."

"How stupid of him! Oh, how stupid of him!" was Sylvia's angry thought.

"I met him once only, on business," she said briefly.

Her manner and the blush mystified Miss Derwent.

"But didn't you like him? He used to be the most popular boy. One
summer when mother was with me at the island she invited him to come to
us, but his vacation had already been bespoken. I should like to renew
our acquaintance. Perhaps Judge Trent will ask him here now. I hope
so."

This girl had everything, everything. It wasn't fair. Sylvia bit her
lip to keep back the excited tears. Her host saw the agitation in her
face and quickly changed the conversation, talking to Edna of her
affairs at Hawk Island, occasionally turning to Sylvia to explain some
reference, but giving her the opportunity to keep silence.

At last, to the great relief of one of the company, bedtime arrived.

"Do forgive me for yawning," said Edna, "but I've had a strenuous day
with Benny Merritt. I'll warrant the poor boy has been asleep for
hours, I worked him so hard; but the cottage is in fine shape and all
ready for Miss Martha and me to descend upon it. Oh, you must stay,"
turning suddenly to Sylvia. "You must come over to Anemone Cottage and
make me a visit." Edna did not say a long visit, for the impression
made upon her by this mute, cold girl in black was chilling; but she