your son, wouldn't it?"

Mrs. Green caught her breath, and sitting down again took his arm in her
trembling fingers.

"Suppose," she said, unsteadily--"suppose you came round and pretended to
be my son--pretended to be my son, and stood up for me?"

Mr. Letts stared at her in amazement, and then began to laugh.

"Nobody would know," continued the other, quickly. "We only came to this
place just before he sailed, and his sister was only ten at the time.
She wouldn't remember."

Mr. Letts said he couldn't think of it, and sat staring, with an air of
great determination, at the sea. Arguments and entreaties left him
unmoved, and he was just about to express his sorrow for her troubles and
leave, when she gave a sudden start and put her arm through his.

"Here comes your sister!" she exclaimed.

Mr. Letts started in his turn.

"She has seen me holding your arm," continued Mrs. Green, in a tense
whisper. "It's the only way I can explain it. Mind, your name is Jack
Foster and hers is Betty."

Mr. Letts gazed at her in consternation, and then, raising his eyes,
regarded with much approval the girl who was approaching. It seemed
impossible that she could be Mrs. Green's daughter, and in the excitement