"None whatever; but, oh Minnie, you should not want to flirt when you are engaged! I do hope you are not going to be married just because you are tired and discouraged and need a rest. I do trust you are not making a mistake," cried Hope earnestly. "Are you quite sure you care for hint, and can be happy?" Miss Caldecott laughed lightly. "My dear," she said, "if I look thirty in my best new veil, it is more than time I was married. And I am so tired of paying my own bills! Jack is very well off, and I intend to make his money fly. It will be a new experience to spend money that some one else has earned." She paused, looked for a moment into Hope's wistful face, and added impulsively, "If you will promise faithfully never to tell Jack if you should meet him, I'll let you into a secret. I'm frightfully happy! I've been in love with him for years. It was difficult to make up my mind when I had been my own mistress for so long, but now that I _have_ given in, I wouldn't go back for the world. It is nice to be loved and taken care of--far nicer than being independent. You will find that out for yourself some day soon." "Dear Minnie, I am so glad! I do congratulate you with all my heart; and `Jack' too. You will make such a nice, cheerful, good-tempered wife!" cried Hope bravely; whereat Miss Minnie indulged in an elephantine byplay of bashfulness, and ran rustling down the staircase. "An appalling woman!" the Hermit was reiterating in the drawing-room; but none of the sisters would agree with this denunciation. "She doesn't wear her heart on her sleeve; neither do we," maintained Hope. "She is ever so much nicer when you know her well." "She shows great perspicuity in her judgment. Did you hear her say that I was sure to get on?" cried Madge; and Theo smiled as at a pleasant recollection. "Did you notice how her face softened when we spoke of our trouble? Her lips drooped, and her eyes grew so soft and liquid. My next heroine shall have eyes like that." "And if she helps us to find Barney," sighed Philippa softly, "I shall bless the name of Minnie Caldecott as long as I live." CHAPTER TWENTY THREE. REJOICINGS. It can be imagined with what eagerness Steve was greeted on his return from the City that evening, how he was hurried through his dinner, and despatched forthwith, in company with the Hermit, to interview "Jim," otherwise Mr James Matthews. The time of waiting seemed unbearably long, but when the two men returned it was at once evident that they were the bearers of good news. The companion of the newspaper shop had been found at last, while Barney himself was now on his way to the Cape, working for his passage in the capacity of steward!