it until--until I see you--oh, if you
wouldn't!"

Will looked at Tilly with wonder. This was certainly something more
serious than common. What was it,--what was the trouble?

But Agnes was by this time close upon him, reaching up her hand and
crying, "Give it to me, Will, give it to me!"

But Will laughingly thrust the paper into his pocket, and answered,--

"No, I'll keep it for you, and give it to you later; I don't think it
would be safe now. There's so much thunder in the air it might be struck
by lightning."

"It might be snatched or stolen, I dare say," said Agnes, with a
significant look at Tilly; "and you may keep it for me until later in
the evening, and--read it at your leisure. It's a very interesting
collection of facts."

"Tum, tum, ti tum," suddenly struck up the band in the hall.

"Eight o'clock!" cried Agnes, in astonishment.

"Yes, the ball's begun," said Will, nodding and smiling; "and if you'll
excuse me," lifting his cap, "I'll go and get into my dancing shoes."

Agnes tried to smile in response; but a little pang of disappointment
thrilled her as he left her without asking her for a dance. But he
would later, of course,--later, when he would hand her her property,
that collection of "facts," and by that time he would have read these
"facts." She wouldn't need to risk any words of her own in accusation
after that,--which conclusion shows very plainly that Miss Agnes had
been sufficiently impressed with Tilly's warning to hold her peace.

That she had not flaunted the newspaper cutting before the eyes of
others in the house also shows that the accident of the moment and her
hot anger had, in the one instance only, overcome her caution.

But Tilly did not know all this, and her anxiety increased after she had
heard those words to Will, "Read it at your leisure."

Peggy, too, had heard those words, though it was quite clear she had not
heard that other word,--that dreadful name of Smithson; for, "What is it
all about, that bit of paper?" she asked Tilly innocently, as Agnes and
Will disappeared in the hallway; and Tilly said to her imploringly,--

"Don't ask me now, Peggy,--don't, that's a dear; I can't stand any more
now."

And then and there Peggy answered, "I won't, I won't, you dear Tilly; I
won't say another thing about it, and we won't think about it--" And
then and there "Tum, tum, ti tum" burst forth the band in Strauss's
"Morgen Blaetter" waltzes.

"Oh, how I love the 'Morge