of the name. However it may be, it
would be cruel for us to show by our manner or speech any knowledge of
the story; for either way, whether they are those Smithsons or not,
Agnes has made a very unpleasant situation for them, and we must be good
to them."

"But, grandmother, when Agnes tells other people--"

"She won't. Your little warning, by your description of the way she took
it, convinces me that she won't."

"But other people read the papers, and they--"

"May not take any more notice than I did, if Agnes's spiteful suspicions
are held in check."

"But if poor Peggy herself--"

"Peggy probably doesn't read the newspapers any more than you do. But we
needn't waste time in thinking what if this or that; the clear duty for
us is to take no notice, and, as I said, be good to them."

"Oh, grandmother, you are such a dear! I knew you'd feel like this."

There was to be an early little dance that night for the young people,
and Tilly put on her prettiest gown,--a white mull with rose-colored
ribbons,--and went down to dinner in it, for the dance was an informal
affair that was to follow very soon after dinner on account of the
youth of most of the dancers. Her heart beat more quickly as she looked
across at the corner table and saw Peggy and her aunt in their places,
and that Peggy was also dressed for the occasion in something white,
embroidered with rosebuds, and with ribbon loops of pale blue and a
broad sash of the same color.

"Of course, she expects to dance," thought Tilly, "and Agnes will be
horrid to her about it in some way or other; but I shall stand by Peggy
anyway, whatever anybody else may do."

It was with this kind intention that Tilly hurried through her dinner
and hastened out to join Peggy and her aunt when they left the
dining-room. But the kind intention was arrested for the moment by
Dora's voice calling out,--

"Tilly, Tilly, wait a minute."

The next thing Dora had her hand over Tilly's arm. Amy and Agnes were
just behind, and there was nothing to do but to follow the general
movement with them to the piazza. That it was a planned movement to
separate her from Peggy, Tilly did not doubt; for once out on the
piazza, Agnes, with a whispered word to Amy, turned sharply about in the
opposite direction to that where Mrs. Smith and her niece were sitting.

A color like a red rose sprang to Tilly's cheeks as she glanced across
at Peggy, and bowed to her with a swift little smile. Then,