_
"A cocked nose? It must be my little friend, Eve Dodd. I didn't know
she was come back."
"What a pretty face to be in such--such a--such an impossible bonnet.
It has come down from another epoch." This not maliciously, but with a
sort of tender, womanly concern for beauty set off to the most
disadvantage.
"O, hang her bonnet! She is full of fun; she shall drink tea with us;
she is a great favorite of mine."
They quickened their pace, and caught Eve Dodd just as she took a
flying leap over some water that lay in her path, and showed a
charming ankle. In those days female dress committed two errors that
are disappearing: it revealed the whole foot by day, and hid a section
of the bosom at night.
After the usual greetings, Mr. Fountain asked Eve if she would come
over and drink tea with him and his niece.
Miss Dodd colored and cast a glance of undisguised admiration at Miss
Fountain, but she said: "Thank you, sir; I am much obliged, but I am
afraid I can't come. My brother would miss me."
"What--the sailor? Is he at home?"
"Yes, sir; came home last night"; and she clapped her hands by way of
comment. "He has been with my mother all church-time; so now it is my
turn, and I don't know how to let him out of my sight yet awhile." And
she gave a glance at Miss Fountain, as much as to say, "You
understand."
"Well, Eve," said Mr. Fountain good-humoredly, "we must not separate
brother and sister," and he was turning to go.
"Perhaps, uncle," said Lucy, looking not at Mr.
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