"And at the Manor. He takes bread every day to the Manor, Martha." "H--m--only his seconds, I should say. Well, this is all very interesting, but I can't see what it has to say to two people being in a boat on the harbor." "Oh, Martha, you see the baker must know, and he told me for a positive fact. They're engaged." "What! Has Hunt made it up with Gracie Jones? It's time for him. He has been hanging after her long enough." "Oh, sister, I am not alluding to anything plebeian." "Well, my dear Maria, I'd be glad to know once for all to what you are alluding, for, to be frank with you, I think your brain is going fast." "It's Bee," said Miss Maria. "It's our Bee. She's engaged. It's all settled." "Beatrice engaged? I don't believe a word of it." "It's true. Hunt said there wasn't a doubt of it, and he ought to know, for he takes bread--" "You needn't go on about the bread. To whom is Beatrice Meadowsweet affianced?" "To no less a person, Martha, than Captain Bertram, and there they are in a boat by themselves on the water." Mrs. Butler snatched up the spy-glass again, and after considerable difficulty, and some mutterings, focussed it so as to suit her sight. She was absolutely silent, as she gazed her fill at the unconscious occupants of the green boat. After a long time she put down the glass, and turned to her sister. "We'll go upstairs and put on our bonnets, Maria, I should like to go out. I want to call on the Bells." Mrs. Bell had lately tried to connect herself with the outside world by adopting a few of its harmless and inexpensive little fashions. She had a day at home. This universal mode of receiving one's friends was not generally adopted in Northbury, but Mrs. Bell, who had heard of it through the medium of a weekly fashion paper which a distant cousin in London was kind enough to supply her with, thought it would be both distinguished and economical to adopt the system of only receiving her friends on Thursdays. She was laughed at a good deal, and considered rather upstartish for doing so; but nevertheless, on Thursdays the friends came, being sure of a good dish of gossip as well as sugared and creamed tea and home-made cakes in abundance. On Thursdays Mrs. Bell put on every ring and ornament she possessed. Her one and only dark red tabinet--this was her wedding-gown let out and dyed--adorned her stout figure, and then she sat in her drawing-room, and awaited her company. Her daughters always sat with her, and they, too, on these occasions, made the utmost of their poor wardrobes. Mrs. Bell was in particularly good spirits on this special afternoon, for rumors had as yet cast no shadows before, and the preceding evening she had been lucky enough to meet Mabel Bertram, and had almost extracted a promise from that young lady that she would come to her reception in the company of her gallant brother.