“What is the matter between you and Traverse, Dexie?” said Mr. Sherwood one day, as Dexie sat by his side, writing at his dictation.  “Never mind about that story now; I have forgotten how I intended to end the matter.  Tell me what has happened between you two.”

“Indeed, papa, there is nothing.  Mr. Traverse has probably something else to take up his attention, and he has been away to New York, I hear, so I daresay he is too busy to drop in as often as he used to do.  Never mind him; it is a pity not to complete this story when it is so nearly finished.  Let me read what I have written down, then perhaps you will remember what you were going to do with this singular young lady.”

“Oh, no!  Put the thing out of sight!  I’m sick and tired of her already.  I miss Traverse, Dexie, and if you have had a quarrel, make it up for my sake.  He brings a world of sunshine with him when he comes.”

“We have not quarrelled, papa; that is not the reason he has not been in.  But I will tell Gussie to ask him to come in to-night; she will see him at the T. and B. rooms.”

“Why can’t you ask him yourself, Dexie?  Queer that he has not been in lately!  There was never a day but he would run in for a few minutes during some part of it; so ask him yourself to come in and see me.”

“I am not going out to-night, papa dear, but I will write him a note, if you say so,” and she drew some tiny sheets from among the scattered MS. that filled the desk.

“Do so, then, and tell him to come in as early as he can.”

“There, how will that do, papa?” and she passed the few lines for his inspection.

“Well, it couldn’t be said in fewer words; that’s a fact,” he said, looking at her curiously.  “Look here, Dexie, out with it.  What has happened to you?  Don’t try to hide it; for I’m not stone-blind yet,” and he pinched her pink ear, and pulled her face around to look into it.  “What has come over you lately?  Some new experience, I am quite sure.  Matters are not as they used to be.  I have noticed the change in you for some time.  You go whistling through the house as happy as a bird, and your face is as bright as a new button.  Surely it cannot be because Traverse does not visit us so often?  Yet, I notice if anyone speaks to you about him, you get as ‘mum’ as you please.  Come, you used to tell me all your little secrets, you know.  What’s up, Dexie?”

“Dear papa, I don’t know what to tell you,” and she stooped and kissed his cheek.  “You may look at things differently than I do, and news which may be pleasant to me may seem very strange to you.”

“Then there is news of some kind, after all?  Well, let us have it.  I want to hear the news, good, bad or indifferent.  I will try to believe it is good news, since it has such a happy effect on yourself,” and he looked up at the bright face that was bending over his chair.  “Well, you know, there was a sort of promise between Lancy and me; but I am free from it.  Our last letters have been sent and received, and by and by he is going to take an English lassie home as his wife.”