ng very foolishly, Harry," said Graeme. "What do
the Roxburys care for any of us? Do you suppose Mrs Roxbury would
notice a slight from a young girl like Rose. And she was not rude."

"No, perhaps not; but she was polite in a way so distant and dignified,
so condescending, even, that I was amazed, and so was Charlie, I know,
though he did not say so."

"Nonsense, Harry! Rose knows them, but very slightly. And what has Mr
Millar to do with it?"

"Mr Millar!" exclaimed Harry. "Do be reasonable, Graeme. Is it not of
Mr Millar that we have been speaking all this time? He has everything
to do with it. And as for not knowing them. I am sure Rose was at
first delighted with Miss Roxbury. And Amy was as delighted with her,
and wanted to be intimate, I know. But Rose is such a flighty, flippant
little thing, that--"

"That will do, Harry. Such remarks may be reserved for Mr Millar's
hearing. I do not choose to listen to them. You are very unjust to
Rose."

"It is you who are unjust, Graeme, and unreasonable, and a little out of
temper, which does not often happen with you. I am sure I don't
understand it."

Graeme laughed.

"Well, perhaps I am a little out of temper, Harry. I know I am
dreadfully tired. We won't say anything more about it to-night, except
that I don't like to have Rose misunderstood."

"I was, perhaps, a little hard on Rosie, once, but I don't think I
misunderstand her," said Harry, wisely. "She is just like other girls,
I suppose; only, Graeme, you have got me into the way of thinking that
my sisters should not be just like other girls, but a great deal better
in every way. And I shan't be hard on her any more, now that it is all
right with Charlie."

But was it all right with Charlie? Graeme's talk with Harry had not
enlightened her much. Had pretty, gentle Amy Roxbury helped Charlie "to
get over it;" as Harry's manner of speaking seemed to imply? Or did
Charlie still care for Rose? And had Rose ever cared for him "in that
way?" Was Rose foolish, and flippant, and fond of admiration, as Harry
declared; and was she growing dissatisfied with their quiet, uneventful
life? Was it this that had brought over her the change which could not
be talked about or noticed, which, at most times, could not be believed
in, but which, now and then, made itself evident as very real and very
sad? Or was it something else that was bringing a cloud and a shadow
over the life of her young sist