e clock-shade last term, and you know you did it.
And I want to know something so very badly!"

"It's no use coming to _me_, you know," said Paul. "I can't do anything
for you."

"Yes, you can; you know you can!" said Dulcie impulsively. "You can tell
me what was in that letter you had at breakfast--and you shall too!"

"What an inquisitive little girl you are," said Paul sententiously.
"It's not nice for little girls to be so inquisitive--it doesn't look
well."

"I knew it!" cried Dulcie; "you don't want to tell me--because--because
it's from that other horrid girl you like better than me. And you
promised to belong to me for ever and ever, and now it's all over! Say
it isn't! Oh, Dick, promise to give the other girl up. I'm sure she's
not a nice girl. She's written you an unkind letter; now hasn't she?"

"Upon my word," said Paul, "this is very forward; at your age too. Why,
my Barbara----"

"Your Barbara! you dare to call her that? Oh, I knew I was right; I
_will_ see that letter now. Give it me this instant!" said Dulcie
imperiously; and Paul really felt almost afraid of her.

"No, no," he said, retreating a step or two, "it's all a mistake;
there's nothing to get into such a passion about--there isn't indeed!
And--don't cry--you're really a pretty little girl. I only wish I could
tell you everything; but you'd never believe me!"

"Oh, yes, I would, Dick!" protested Dulcie, only too willing to be
convinced of her boy-lover's constancy; "I'll believe anything, if
you'll only tell me. And I'm sorry I was so angry. Sit down by me and
tell me from the very beginning. I promise not to interrupt."

Paul thought for a moment. After all, why shouldn't he? It was much
pleasanter to tell his sorrows to her little ear and hear her childish
wonder and pity than face her terrible father--he had tried that. And
then she might tell her mother; and so his story might reach the
Doctor's ears after all, without further effort on his part.

"Well," he said at last, "I think you're a good-natured little girl; you
won't laugh. Perhaps I will tell you!"

So he sat down on the bench by the wall, and Dulcie, quite happy again
now at this proof of good faith, nestled up against him confidingly,
waiting for his first words with parted lips and eager sparkling eyes.

"Not many days ago," began Paul, "I was somebody very different
from----"

"Oh, indeed," said a jarring, sneering voice close by; "was you?" And he
looked up and