Still, as yet she had no definite plan in her mind as to how she would play her game of retaliation; but during the evening she heard her father inquire how long Mr. Plaisted intended to remain in the town. "I leave the day after to-morrow," Plaisted replied. "I have an appointment in H---- on the fifteenth." "Oh, to-morrow is St. Valentine's day!" cried Gussie. "I really had forgotten it. You must send me a valentine to remember you by"--this to Plaisted, who had seated himself beside her on the sofa. "Am I likely to be forgotten without some reminder?" was the low-spoken reply. "I was hoping something quite different." The mention of valentines gave Dexie an idea, and during the evening she visited several stores where these tokens of sentiment were kept for sale, but found nothing in the shape of a picture that would suit the verses of tender sentiment so touchingly expressed for her beloved Shadrach by the fair widow. As she was returning home she passed a little shop, the windows of which were decorated with valentines of the one and two cent variety, and one of these caught her attention. It was one of the most common sort, and showed in variegated colors a large fish with two tails for legs, two elongated fins for arms, on one of which was a basket containing some smaller specimens of its own species, while the other held to its mouth the melodious fish-horn that delights our ears every morning. Purchasing this caricature of a shad, she pasted below it a version of the affectionate lines of Widow Bedott; then enclosing it in an elaborate envelope, she addressed it with many flourishes to: "MR. DANUEL SHADRACH PLAISTED," and carried it herself to the post office. As she passed the fish market her attention was attracted by some very fine shad displayed for sale, and they immediately suggested a further means of accomplishing her revenge, so she ordered a supply. Dexie sought her mother directly she arrived home. "Don't you think we might ask Mr. Plaisted to dinner to-morrow, mamma?" she asked. "Please yourself, Dexie; but if he is asked, you must see about the dinner yourself. It will not do to trust Eliza to get up anything extra, you know." "The dinner shall be well served, but I have a favor to ask, mamma. If Mr. Plaisted is present, will you praise or condemn the fish course--at the table, I mean; praise it highly, or condemn it heartily." "Well, I cannot see your object in making such a request, Dexie," said her mother in surprise, "but I will not be indifferent, if that is what you mean." The next morning, when Mr. Sherwood was drawing on his gloves to go to his office, Dexie followed him out to the hall, and as she brushed a few specks from his coat, asked: "If you see Mr. Plaisted this morning, will you send or bring him up to dinner; but don't say that I told you to ask him?" "Well, what's in the wind now? I thought you did not care for Mr. Plaisted's society," regarding her intently.