l her--O, what shall
I do!'

'Never mind it,' said Christopher, a sense of the true state of her case
dawning upon him with unpleasant distinctness, and bringing some
irritation at his awkward position; though it was impossible to be long
angry with a girl who had not reasoning foresight enough to perceive that
doubtful pleasure and certain pain must be the result of any meeting
whilst hearts were at cross purposes in this way.

'Where is your sister?' he asked.

'She wouldn't come down, unless she MUST,' said Picotee. 'You have vexed
her, and she has a headache besides that, and I came instead.'

'So that I mightn't be wasted altogether. Well, it's a strange business
between the three of us. I have heard of one-sided love, and reciprocal
love, and all sorts, but this is my first experience of a concatenated
affection. You follow me, I follow Ethelberta, and she follows--Heaven
knows who!'

'Mr. Ladywell!' said the mortified Picotee.

'Good God, if I didn't think so!' said Christopher, feeling to the soles
of his feet like a man in a legitimate drama.

'No, no, no!' said the frightened girl hastily. 'I am not sure it is Mr.
Ladywell. That's altogether a mistake of mine!'

'Ah, yes, you want to screen her,' said Christopher, with a withering
smile at the spot of light. 'Very sisterly, doubtless; but none of that
will do for me. I am too old a bird by far--by very far! Now are you
sure she does not love Ladywell?'

'Yes!'

'Well, perhaps I blame her wrongly. She may have some little good
faith--a woman has, here and there. How do you know she does not love
Ladywell?'

'Because she would prefer Mr. Neigh to him, any day.'

'Ha!'

'No, no--you mistake, sir--she doesn't love either at all--Ethelberta
doesn't. I meant that she cannot love Mr. Ladywell because he stands
lower in her opinion than Mr. Neigh, and him she certainly does not care
for. She only loves you. If you only knew how true she is you wouldn't
be so suspicious about her, and I wish I had not come here--yes, I do!'

'I cannot tell what to think of it. Perhaps I don't know much of this
world after all, or what girls will do. But you don't excuse her to me,
Picotee.'

Before this time Picotee had been simulating haste in getting a light;
but in her dread of appearing visibly to Christopher's eyes, and showing
him the precise condition of her tear-stained face, she put it off moment
after moment, and stirred the fire, in hope t