The wonderful Miss Pettigrew had also supplied the dress with a train, which could be hooked on with safety hooks and eyes for evening wear, and removed easily when the robe was to act as a tennis or morning costume.  Altogether, nothing could have been more complete than this sinning garment, and no heart could have beat more proudly under it than did fair Matty’s.

When the captain went suddenly away this little girl and her good mother had both owned to a sense of depression; but his speedy return was soon bruited abroad, and at the same time that little whisper got into the air with regard to the gallant captain, that, like Duncan Gray, he was coming back to woo.  It did not require many nods of Mrs. Bell’s head to assure all her acquaintances whom she considered the favored young lady.  Matty once more blushed consciously, and giggled in an audible manner when the captain’s name was mentioned.  The invitation to play tennis at the Manor completed the satisfaction of this mother and daughter.

“There’s no doubt of it,” said Mrs. Bell; “I thought my fine lady would have to come down from her high horse.  I expect the captain makes his mother do pretty much what he wishes, and very right, too, very right.  He wants to show his little girl to his proud parent, and, whether she likes it or not, she’ll have to make much of you, my love.  Sophy and Alice, it’s more than likely Matty will be asked to dine and spend the evening, at the Manor, and I think we’ll just make up the evening body of her silk dress and her train in a bit of brown paper, and you can carry the parcel up between you to the Manor.  Then, if it’s wanted, it will come in handy, and my girl won’t be behind one of them.”

“Lor, ma, what are we to do with such a bulky parcel?” objected Sophy, who was not looking her best in a washed-out muslin of two years’ date.  “What can we do with the parcel when we get to the Manor?”

“Take it up, of course, to the house, child, and give it to the servant, and tell her it’s to be kept till called for.  She’ll understand fast enough; servants always guess when there’s a sweetheart in the question.  Most likely she’ll place the things ready for Matty in one of the bedrooms.  I’ll put in your best evening shoes too, Matty, love, and my old black lace fan, in case you should flush up dreadful when the captain is paying you attention.  And now, Sophy, you’ll just be good-natured, and leave the parcel with the parlor maid, so your sister will be prepared for whatever happens.”

Sophy, having been judiciously bribed by the loan of a large Cairngorm brooch of her mother’s, which took up a conspicuous position at her throat, finally consented to carry the obnoxious parcel.  Alice was further instructed, in case Mrs. Bertram so far failed in her duty as to neglect to invite Matty to stay to dine at the Manor to try and bring Captain Bertram back with them to supper.

“You tell him that I’ll have a beautiful lobster, and a crab done to a turn ready for him,” whispered the mother.  “You’ll manage it, Alice, and look sympathetic when you speak to him, poor fellow.  Let him know that I’ll give him his chances, whether that proud lady, his mother, does or not.  Now then, off you go, all three of you.  Kiss me, Matty, my pet.  Well, to be sure, you do look stylish.”