please, and a nice job you will make of it; but as for turning me into a fine lady, thank you for nothing. I should like to see John's face if I met him dressed in a grey moire antique and a lace mantle, and twiddling a little bit of netting silk over an ivory stick. No, my dears, you must let me be as I am, I'm too old to improve."
"You don't want a bit of improvement, dear old mother," said both her girls, giving her a good hug, "I was only joking," added Janet.
"And only a very leetle bit jealous of Miss Grenville," whispered Rose.
Blanche and Aileen went the next day to call on Mrs. Hopkinson, to repeat their thanks for her hospitalities, and to see the silver inkstand which Arthur, had presented to the Captain.
"Such a sweet inscription," Mrs. Hopkinson said, "'To Captain John Hopkinson, from his obliged and faithful friend Arthur Templeton.' I don't suppose John would take one thousand pounds for that inkstand. Would
