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you?”
    “How—?”
    “It wasn’t hard to guess. Every girl in town has been after Colby at one time or other.”
    “What about you?” Maggie asked.
    “Even me.” Mabel shrugged. “I gave it up when I saw how serious he was for your sister.”
    “Now that he’s free . . . ?”
    “No . . .” She got a dreamy look on her face. “Stanley Driscoll is paying court to me. You probably don’t know him, but his father owns the Driscoll Steamship line. I met him last summer when we were in Astoria.”
    That was indeed a perfect match for Mabel—a rich city fellow. But Maggie was surprised she hadn’t heard anything but vague rumors about this. The gossip from the Sewing Circle always managed to drift down to the daughters eventually.
    “I hadn’t heard, Mabel,” Maggie said, then added politely, “Congratulations.”
    “It’s not official yet, and Mother wants to keep it quiet until . . . well, just for a bit.” Then Mabel went on, returning to the earlier direction of the conversation. “You won’t have much of a chance for Colby with Tamara around.”
    Maggie nodded dismally.
    “And my brother won’t have a chance at Tamara with Colby around.”
    Feeling suddenly reckless and honest, Maggie said, “I’d be happy to remove Colby from the field.”
    “You could, you know.” Mabel gave Maggie a careful look. “All dressed up like you are, you could give Tamara some competition.”
    “Ah . . . no . . .”
    “Honestly, you could.” Mabel rubbed her chin thoughtfully. “You and Evan should join forces. Of course you would have to do the lion’s share of manipulation. Men can be so dull regarding romantic matters.”
    “I don’t like the sound of that,” Maggie said. “I’m no good at it, for one thing. I tried when Zack was the minister, and I failed miserably. I’m glad I failed because he and my sister belong together, but still, I know I’m not good at scheming.”
    “I wouldn’t call it scheming . But if opportunities were encouraged for Evan and Tamara to be together and likewise for you and Colby, what is wrong with that? It’s just like giving nature a little push.”
    “How well does your brother know Tamara?” Maggie asked, growing uncomfortable with Mabel’s suggestions, though intrigued at the same time.
    “Her family went to Boston last spring, as did we, for the Harvard graduation. Apparently the Brennans had visited their son in Boston on a few other occasions. Evan had opportunity at these times to socialize with Tamara, because he and Tamara’s brother, being from the same state and all, had become friends. Poor Evan was besotted with her but too shy to do more than bask in her presence.”
    “Did she give him any encouragement?”
    “They were friendly to each other, but she was being courted by a man at home. My brother must not have made a strong enough case for himself, for she became engaged to this other man upon returning to Portland. It didn’t last. I haven’t been able to ferret out the reason, but the engagement was broken off. When Evan found this out, he gave up all his Boston prospects and hurried home.”
    “Does he realize the mothers are trying to match Colby and Tamara?”
    “I’m sure he does, but if you haven’t noticed, Evan isn’t what I would call an aggressive sort. Nor has he the kind of charms that would woo a girl from the likes of Colby.”
    Maggie thought about the clumsy, average-looking fellow who had dumped punch on her dress and had to agree. “I suppose he could use some help.”
    “Do give it some thought, Maggie. You could benefit, as well.”
    Maggie wondered what was in it for Mabel to see these matches succeed but could only discern that she truly wanted to see her brother happy with the woman of his dreams.
    “We best get back to the party,” Maggie added. She wasn’t ready to make a commitment.
    Back in the Parker parlor Maggie kept thinking about her conversation with Mabel and grew more and more intrigued. As they