He had asked Josephine to give him a month to do this in, and he had begged of her to leave Northbury for the time, assuring her that her presence at his mother's gates would be highly detrimental to their mutual interests.
Josephine had departed, and Bertram, after the fashion of men of his class, had almost forgotten her existence in his pursuit of a new quest.
Now he was engaged, and his wedding-bells would soon ring.

If the thought of Josephine Hart did flash now and then before his mental vision, he could only hope devoutly that she would learn nothing of his betrothal to Beatrice until after their marriage.

"She may appear then, and I may have to tell Bee everything," he soliloquized.

"Well, well, Bee could not be hard on a fellow, and we will both do what we can for poor Josephine.

No doubt I should not have made her a good husband--no doubt, no doubt! Poor child--poor, beautiful child." But as he said the words under his breath, Captain Bertram felt his heart beat hard and fast.