"He'll be all right when she is once Mrs.Hencoop." That very evening Fred came in the store to ask me to be his groomsman.
"We're going to be married the first of June," he told me, grinning like an idiot.
"Does Belle know that you invite me to be groomsman ?" I responded, gloomily.
"Yes; she suggested that you be asked.

Rose Ellis is to be bridesmaid." "Very well; I accept." "All right, old fellow.

Thank you," slapping me on the back.
As I lay tossing restlessly on my bed that night--after an hour spent in a vain attempt to take the butter out of my lavenders with French chalk--I made a new and firm resolution.

I would make Belle sorry that she had given her preference to Fred.

I would so bear myself--during our previous meetings and consultations, and during the day of the ceremony--that she should bitterly repent not having given me an opportunity to conquer my diffidence before taking up with Frederick Hencoop.