Kate did not say "No"; she was by that time in a frame of mind which would have made her equal to tramping through mud for the sake of having Jermyn beside her. While at the yard, she with delight the with which all the officers greeted Jermyn. Trif had whispered to her, only a few hours before, that she herself had once been almost in love with Jermyn, and that she still believed no other bachelor alive was his equal, but Kate had been a woman long enough to attach more importance to men's opinions of men than to women's. was served for the party on one of the war , and each lady was toasted, and [Pg 141]Kate noted that when her own name was given, Jermyn drained his glass with a look at her which made her feel uncomfortable yet happy.  
The party returned to Old Point by a boat which did not reach the until after dark, and as the officer's wife had never before been in Norfolk alone her husband was at the pier, in much anxiety, to look for her, and escort her home, and the pier was so covered with freight that Jermyn thought it his duty to insist that Kate should take his arm, which he held very closely to his side without any from the owner, and then he insisted upon finding her brother or Trif before he left her.
 
"'Tis all right," whispered Trif to Fenie, as she saw them approaching.
 
"About the dolls?" asked Trixy, anxiously. "Do you think them's in the bundle that he's carryin'?"
 
"No, you silly child!" said Fenie. "Your mother means——"
 
Fenie received a warning pinch, but it was too late, for the child exclaimed: "Oh, I know!" and made a sudden dash in the direction of the approaching couple. Trif snatched at Trixy's dress; there was a ripping, tearing sound, and away went the child, while behind her floated something like a train.
 
"Oh, I'm so glad!" she exclaimed, stopping before Jermyn and Kate so suddenly as to separate them.
 
"Yes," said Kate. "Here are the dolls, dear."
 
"I'm awful glad to get 'em; my, what a big bundle! But that wasn't what I meant."
 
[Pg 142]
 
"What else?" asked Kate, in entire .
 
"Why, that you're bein' nice to Mr. Jermyn. Mamma and Aunt Fee have been talkin' about you all day, and hopin' you wouldn't be a fool—that's what they said; I never say such things about a lady—no indeed! Say, you're engaged, aren't you? 'Cause——"
 
"Take the package to your mother, Trixy, and let her open it for you," said Jermyn quickly. "Miss Trewman, please don't hurry away; do take my arm again, just for a moment; thank you. I merely wished to say—shall we walk a moment?—to say that our friends seem to take unusual interest in us; interest of a kind which I'm sure neither of us has said a word to ."
 
"Not a word, I'm sure," Kate.
 
"But I can't endure," continued Jermyn rapidly, "to risk, merely through the of a child, the most

Join or Log In! You need to log in to continue reading

Create a new account   I have a account already

	Create an New Account
Email:  (User Name)
Password:	Letters and numbers only. 6-20 characters.
Retype Password:
Screen Name:	Letters and numbers only. 6-50 Characters.
Confirmation Code:	(Please type in the characters in the green image.)

	Login into Your Account
Email:
Password:
	Remember me on this computer.