"It's awful to see the thunder-clap that comes on Gusty's brow," the
good lady would say. "And what I'm so terrified of is that if he and the
captain meet they'll do each other a serious mischief. My poor child,
she is the innocent cause, Well, well, she has been much sought after."
When Beatrice asked the Bells to become her bride's-maids, Mrs. Bell
thought the time had arrived to let bygones be bygones, and to accept
the proffered honor.
"It was the captain's wish, I make no doubt," she said to her husband;
"he knew he hadn't a chance of winning the girl on whom his heart was
set, but he thought, at least, he might have the pleasure of seeing her
at his wedding, and, so to speak, looking his last on her. It's my
belief, too, that he'll relieve his feelings by giving Matty a very
beautiful present. She must hide it from Gusty, though; Gusty is so
terrible in the jealous excess of his feelings."
As Beatrice had insisted on giving her bride's-maids their dresses,
no difficulty could be experienced on that head, and the Bells,
notwithstanding that stormy period which had gone before, enjoyed
themselves immensely during the brief season of Beatrice's engagement.
Mrs. Bell certainly was happy during this time. If Matty was not engaged
to Bertram she soon would be to a better man.
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