“I hoped he would examine the volume, for Lucretia’s and Lyman’s names were on the fly leaf, and that would be a delightful introduction for me.  So I said nothing and bided my time, feeling rather foolish when we all filed in to lunch, and I saw the other party glancing at the ladies at the table.  Mr. Warburton’s eye paused a moment as it passed from Mrs. Tracy to me, and I fear I blushed like a girl, my dears, for Samuel had very fine eyes, and I remembered the stout gentleman’s unseemly joke about the stockings.  Mine were white as snow, for I had a neat foot, and was fond of nice hose and well-made shoes.  I am so still, as you see.”  Here the old lady displayed a small foot in a black silk stocking and delicate slipper, with the artless pride a woman feels, at any age, in one of her best points.  The girls gratified her by a murmur of admiration, and, decorously readjusting the folds of her gown, she went on with the most romantic episode of her quiet life.

“I retired to my state-room after lunch to compose myself, and when I emerged, in the cool of the afternoon, my first glance showed me that the hour had come, for there on deck was Mr. Warburton, talking to Mrs. Tracy, with my book in his hand.  I hesitated a moment, for in spite of my age I was rather shy, and really it was not an easy thing to apologize to a strange gentle-man for dropping books on his head and spoiling his hat.  Men think so much of their hats you know.  I was spared embarrassment, however, for he saw me and came to me at once, saying, in the most cordial manner, as he showed the names on the fly leaf of my Wordsworth, ’I am sure we need no other introduction but the names of these two dear friends of ours.  I am very glad to find that Miss Helen Harper is the little girl I saw once or twice at your father’s house some years ago, and to meet her so pleasantly again.’

“That made everything easy and delightful, and when I had apologized and been laughingly assured that he considered it rather an honor than otherwise to be assaulted by so great a man, we fell to talking of old times, and soon forgot that we were strangers.  He was twenty years older than I, but a handsome man, and a most interesting and excellent one, as we all know.  He had lost a young wife long ago, and had lived for science ever since, but it had not made him dry, or cold, or selfish.  He was very young at heart for all his wisdom, and enjoyed that holiday like a boy out of school.  So did I, and never dreamed that anything would come of it but a pleasant friendship founded on our love for those now dead and gone.  Dear me! how strangely things turn out in this world of ours, and how the dropping of that book changed my life!  Well, that was our introduction, and that first long conversation was followed by many more equally charming, during the three weeks our parties were much together, as both were taking the same trip, and Dr. Tracy was glad to meet his old friend.