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.

Gusty Jenkins, as she invariably called him, was, of course, the better man now in her eyes.
The three girls were being supplied with new and lovely dresses, in which Mrs.Bell assured her husband they'd look like angels wafted down fresh from the skies--for the occasion.