use Mary Beck was unobservant for the first
week or two, Betty took little pains to conceal the fact that she and
the Grants had a new interest in common. Then one day Becky did not
come over, though the white handkerchief was displayed betimes; and
when, as soon as possible, Betty hurried over to see what the matter
was, Becky showed unmistakable signs of briefness and grumpiness of
speech, and declared that she was busy at home, and evidently did not
care for the news that an old AEolian harp had been discovered on a high
upper shelf and carried to one of the dormer windows, where it was then
wailing. The plaintive strains of it would have suited Becky's spirit
and temper of mind excellently. It did not occur to Betty until she was
going home, disappointed, that the club was beginning to make trouble;
then her own good temper was spoiled for that day, and she was angry
with Becky for thinking that she had no right to be intimate with
anybody else. So serious a disagreement had never parted them before.
Betty Leicester assured herself that Mary knew she was fond of her and
liked to be with her best, and that ought to be enough. The AEolian harp
was quite forgotten.

Later in the day Betty happened to look across the street as she was
shutting the blinds in the upper hall, and saw Mary Beck come proudly
down her short front walk with her best hat on and go stiffly away
without a look across. The sight made her feel misunderstood and lonely;
and one minute later she was just going to shout to Becky when she
remembered that it was a far cry and would wake the aunts from their
afternoon naps. Then she ran lightly down the wide staircase and all the
way to the gate and called as loud as she could, "Mary! Mary!" but
either Becky was too far away or would not turn her proud head. There
were some other persons in the street, who looked with surprise and
interest to see where such an eager shout came from, but Betty Leicester
had turned toward the house again with a heartful of rage and sorrow. It
seemed to be the sudden and unlooked-for end of the summer's pleasure.
When Aunt Barbara waked she asked Betty, being somewhat surprised to
find her in the house alone, to go to the other end of the village to do
an errand.

It was good to have something to do beside growing crosser and crosser,
and Betty gladly hurried away. She hoped that she should meet Becky,
and yet she did not mean to make up too easily, and when she saw Mrs.