He doesn't need any other guaranty than that he's my son, I'm sure, and seeing I'm Dick's papa, my dear, why I'll just make bold to follow suit." But Dick would as soon have thought of offering to kiss the polar star as Gerald, and she was suffered to pass on unmolested to Mrs.Hardcastle, who stood just beyond, looking fagged and jaded, and as if she were heartily thankful that in all his life Dick could never come of age again.

One of the next arrivals was Bell Masters, very fine in her new dress, but flushed and overheated to an unbecoming degree.

She rowed up smartly, shipped her oars in true nautical fashion, sprang from the boat, and held out her hand to her companion with a hardly repressed sneer: "Pray allow me to assist you, Mr.De Forest." That gentleman got up leisurely from his cushioned seat in the stern, and came forward cool and comfortable to an enviable degree.

"Thanks," he said, with even a little more drawl than usual as he took her proffered hand.

"This boat _is_ a little teetery.