"She mopes, poor little mother!" said Madeline to Henry. "I can't think
what's the matter with her. We'll take her off with us on our wedding
trip. She needs a little change."

"Dear me, no, that will never do," protested the little woman, with her
usual half-frightened look at Henry. "Mr. Burr wouldn't think that nice
at all."

"I mean that Mr. Burr shall be too much occupied in thinking how nice I
am to do any other thinking," said Madeline.

"That's like the dress you wore to the picnic at Hemlock Hollow," said
Henry.

"Why, no, it isn't either. It only looks a little like it. It's light,
and cut the same way; that's all the resemblance; but of course a man
couldn't be expected to know any better."

"It's exactly like it," maintained Henry.

"What'll you bet?"

"I'll bet the prettiest pair of bracelets I can find in the city."

"Betting is wicked," said Madeline, "and so I suppose it's my duty to
take this bet just to discourage you from betting any more. Being engaged
makes a girl responsible for a young man's moral culture."

She left the room, and returned in a few moments with the veritable