SOME of the least explicable changes of manner are the most genuine, so it is not necessary to assign any reason for the fact that on the way back to the hotel Jermyn and Kate, who had both been under considerable restraint a few moments before, talked as freely and rapidly as if they had been acquainted for years. The only indication that there was more than one thought between them was the care with which they kept Trixy in sight and reach, so that her little tongue could not wag until it had been put under proper by Trixy's mother. On the other hand, they kept her far enough from them for her not to overhear anything that they were saying to each other, and their frequent recalls, whenever the child attempted to skip or run, had the effect of soon making Trixy appear as if she were a prisoner under close guard.  
Even when the hotel was reached the child was kept within view yet out of hearing, while Jermyn and Kate sat down with Trif. Fortunately for them, and Fenie just then thought of some one whom they wanted to find in the ball-room, and they were glad of some one who would keep Trif from being alone.
 
 
Jermyn began with military directness by saying:
 
"Miss Trewman, may I ask one of my oldest friends to congratulate me?"
 
"Yes," Kate replied, "if you will let her include me in the congratulations."
 
"Oh, you dear people!" exclaimed Trif. "There's nothing that I would rather have heard."
 
"You don't think it shockingly sudden?" asked Kate.
 
"Not I—considering what either of you might have missed by delay."
 
"I assure you," said Kate, "that not a word would have been said about it for months—it all came so suddenly—if it hadn't been for Trixy."
 
"Where is that child?" asked Jermyn, rising in alarm and looking in every direction.
 
"She's looking at her dolls," Trif replied. "No, she isn't. Dear me! I arranged those dolls for her on a chair not ten minutes ago."
 
"Not ten minutes ago?" asked Jermyn dreamily.
 
"It seems ten hours ago—ten days," whispered Kate dreamily.
 
"My dear children," said Trif, although Kate was only three years younger than she and Jermyn was older by several years, "you ought to be the happiest people alive, except Phil and I; but to keep the matter to ourselves for a while, if only to divert attention and prevent impertinent curiosity while Kate is down here—you know how some of the best of people will talk—don't tell any one—although I'm sure that I[Pg 147] must tell Fenie, who can't help telling Harry, but no one else need know."
 
"But, my dear madam," said Jermyn, once more rising and peering earnestly in every direction, "your interesting daughter already knows. I do wish I knew where to look for her."
 
"Trixy knows? How on earth did she learn?"
 
"Tell her—if you can," said Kate to Jermyn.
 
"I am sure that you would do it more ," said Jermyn.
 
"Oh," began Kate, "we were walking along the beach, talking about—never mind what. I hadn't the faintest idea how far we were from the hotel, and the first thing I knew we were near the lighthouse, and I didn't know that any one else was anywhere near us—indeed, I didn't think. Just then Mr. Jermyn—oh, the artfulness of some men—Mr. Jermyn—he——"
 
"He suddenly recognized Miss Trewman as his superior officer for all time, and he made the which custom has sanctioned for such occasions," interrupted Jermyn.
 
"Very gracefully done," murmured Kate with a tender look.
 
"What?—the salute? Your remark encourages me to——"
 
"No, you fellow; the explanation."
 
"But what has this to do with Trixy?" asked Trif.
 
"Only this; it seems that she had been following us all the while, and she heard it."
 
Trif pursed her lips a moment, and laughed before she said:
 
 
"I suppose that soldiers are so accustomed to noisy that they don't always think——"
 
"Oh," said Kate, "I'm sure she didn't hear the kiss, because I didn't, and I think—oh, Trif, you're too mean for anything! To make me——"
 
"I think I made some remarks afterward," said Jermyn, "but they were interrupted by a shout of 'Hurrah,' and on looking around we saw Trixy."
 
"She shan't trouble you again!" exclaimed Trif. "I'll take her home—to-morrow."
 
"Please don't!" exclaimed Kate.
 
"How could you be so cruel?" asked Jermyn.
 
"You inconsistent, incomprehensible couple. A moment ago you were complaining that——"
 
"But haven't you any mercy for Harry and Fenie?" asked Kate. "They are so ecstatically happy here."
 
"Quite right, my dear!" said Jermyn gravely. "Harry and Fenie, to be sure!"
 
"But they can see each other in New York quite as well as if they were here," argued Trif.
 
"But what is to become of me?" asked Kate. "If you go home, Fenie will go with you, and Harry will want to hurry after, and I can't remain here alone, and you are the only married woman of my acquaintance who is here, and who knows."
 
"My dear girl!" exclaimed Trif. "I beg a thousand pardons. Let me see; what can I do? I don't see what, except to caution Trixy very carefully; and as she is the most little thing in the world, and——"
 
 
"And the leakiest," added Kate.
 
"Be quiet, Kate! I won't have the dear child . She never tells anything she is ordered not to—unless she is asked. I shall tell her that she will make great unhappiness for two people who love her dearly if she says anything to anybody about anything which she has heard or—ahem!—seen this evening. Of course, no one will question her, for no one has any reason to suspect anything, and, of course, nothing in the manner of either of you will give any ground for curiosity."
 
"'Twould be awful—simply too awful," moaned Kate, "if anyone should learn what has happened on so short acquaintance............