After breakfast Captain Bertram called at the Gray House.
He and Beatrice had a long interview, then she went to the Bells', and sat with Miss Hart for about half-an-hour.
After dinner that day Bertram spoke to his mother: "Beatrice wants to come up and see you. Can you receive her about six o'clock?"
"At any time, my dear son. But is she not dreadfully busy? Would it not convenience her more if I went to her, Loftie?"
"No, mother, she would prefer to come here. She has"—here his face turned pale—"she has a good deal to say to you—important things to speak about." His voice trembled. "You will see her alone. You will not hurry her. Beatrice is the best—the best girl in the world."
Bertram looked very pale when he said this.
"How strange you look, Loftus!" said his mother. "And your words are very queer. Is anything the matter? Are you concealing any thing from me?"
"Beatrice will tell you," he said. And he hurried out of the room.
A few minutes before six o'clock Beatrice arrived. Mrs. Bertram had given directions that she was to be sent at once to her private room. Clara had these instructions, and was about to carry them out literally when Catherine and Mabel ran into the hall.
They greeted Beatrice with raptures, and Mabel said in an eager voice: