do?"

"I'm Alicia," announced that spry damsel, gaily, and she caught him by
the hand.

"Yes, and very like your mother, my dear sister. Well, Alicia, if you
possess half her fine traits, you'll make a splendid woman. But I
doubt if you are very much like her except in appearance. You look to
me like a flibbertigibbet,--if you know what that is."

"Yes, and I am one, thank you, Uncle Jeff," and Alicia laughed gaily,
not at all abashed at her uncle's remark.

"These are my two friends from Berwick, uncle," said Bernice,
introducing them. "Dolly Fayre and Dotty Rose."

"You are welcome, my dears," and the courteous old gentleman bowed to
them with great dignity. "I trust you can find amusement and enjoy
your visit here. Now, let us dine."

Dolly looked curiously at her host, as he stood back, and bowed the
girls out of the room, before he followed them, but Dotty was so
interested in the surroundings that she gave no second thought to Mr.
Forbes, as she passed him.

The dining-room was a marvel of old time grandeur. Nothing was modern,
but the heavy black walnut sideboard and chairs spoke of long usage
and old time ways.

Mrs. Berry did not appear at the table, and evidently was not