caution was wasted.

"Today is Thursday," said Kate, slowly; "he will be here to-morrow and
Saturday. What shall I wear?"

The captain resumed his gardening operations by no means perturbed at the
prophecy. Much as he disliked the young man he gave him credit for a
certain amount of decency, and his indignation was proportionately great
the following evening when Bella announced Mr. Hardy. He made a genial
remark about Shylock and a pound of flesh, but finding that it was only
an excellent conversational opening, the subject of Shakespeare's plays
lapsed into silence.

It was an absurd situation, but he was host and Hardy allowed him to see
pretty plainly that he was a guest. He answered the latter's remarks
with a very ill grace, and took covert stock of him as one of a species
he had not encountered before. One result of his stock-taking was that
he was spared any feeling of surprise when his visitor came the following
evening.

"It's the thin end of the wedge," said Miss Nugent, who came into the
room after Hardy had departed; "you don't know him as well as I do."

"Eh?" said her father, sharply.

"I mean that you are not such a judge of character as I am," said Kate;
"and besides, I have made a special study of young men. The only thing
that puzzles me is why you should have such an extraordinary fascination
for him."