," says Miss Broughton, regretfully. "I might have
said a great deal more, something kinder, more encouraging, you know;
but I was so surprised and so----"

"Pleased?"--tenderly.

"Pleased! I should think so," with so much _empressement_ that even
Clarissa is taken aback. "I was never so delighted in my life, only,
as I said before, a little confused, and couldn't think of anything
pretty to say."

"I think it was far nicer your saying nothing," says Clarissa, very
gently. She is a little disappointed in Georgie; a woman may be glad
to marry a man, but she shouldn't say so, at least not exactly in such
a cold-blooded fashion. "I can quite understand"--with sufficient
hesitation to convince herself, at least, that she does not
understand--"how you felt nervous in spite of your happiness."

"Oh, you always know everything," says Georgie, so lovingly that
Clarissa hates herself for thinking even one unpleasant thought of
her. "Well, he went on to say he never loved before. Now, honestly,
Clarissa,"--in a thoroughly matter-of-fact tone,--"do you think that
could be true?"

"Why shouldn't it be true?" says Clarissa, wishing with all her heart
the other would be a little more sentimental over her own first
love-affair, as she believes it to be.

"Well, yes, of course; he is rather young, and beauty goes a long way
with some men."

Again Clarissa stares. She hadn't thought Georgie vain of her own
charms. How difficult it is to know any one, even one's chiefest
friend!

"Then he went on to say he could never feel real happiness again until
he knew he was loved in return."

"Well?"--breathlessly,--"and then----?"

"I said,"--with the gayest little laugh imaginable,--"I thought he
_was_ loved in return."

"You _thought_, Georgie? What a strange answer! I do think you are a
little bit coquette! I am so glad, though. Do you know, I guessed all
along how it would be?"

"So did I. I knew very well how it would end. I felt he would fall a
victim sooner or later. It is rather soon, isn't it? But of course it
is only natural I should know about it?"

"Yes, only natural." Clarissa can think of nothing else to say. Not
like this had _she_ felt when----. To talk of him as a victim!

"I hope everything will be settled soon," goes on Miss Broughton,
gayly, "'Happy is the wooing that isn't long adoing.' And I should
like the marriage to be soon; wouldn't you? I think next time I see
him I shall ask him about it."

"Oh, G