ld be so miserable. If you
could have seen and heard him talk, you would have felt broken-hearted
for him--even you!"

"Even you!" I repeated reproachfully. "Am I a monster, Lorna, that you
talk to me like that? Can't you understand that I feel a hundred times
worse than you can possibly do? I never, never thought that when I was
in trouble you would be the first person to turn against me."

"Neither did I. I have been too fond of you, Una. I admired you so
much, and was so proud of having you for my friend that I have been
unjust to other people for your sake. I often took your part at school
when I knew you were in the wrong, simply because I was afraid of making
you angry. It was cowardly of me, and this is my reward! Oh, Una, you
say you are sorry, but you knew it was coming! You are too clever not
to have seen it long ago. If it had been another man I should have
spoken out, but a brother is almost like oneself, so one can't
interfere. But I hinted--you know I hinted, Una--and I saw by your face
that you understood. If you didn't care for him, why didn't you go home
when it was first arranged? We all took it as a good sign when you
agreed to stay on, and Wallace was so happy about it. Poor boy! He
will never be happy again. He says he will go abroad, and father has
been looking forward all these years to his help. It will break his
heart if he loses Wallace!"

Everyone was broken-hearted, it seemed, and they all blamed me, and said
it was my fault. I felt inclined to jump out of the window, and put an
end to it at once. I did turn towards it, and I must have looked pretty
desperate, for Lorna came forward quickly, and took hold of me by the
arm.

"Come down and talk to mother. She is all alone, and she is old and
will understand better than I do. Oh, Una, I shall always love you! I
shan't be able to help it, whatever you have done. I didn't mean to be
unkind, but I am--so--miserable!"

I gripped her hand, but couldn't speak; we were both struggling not to
cry all the way downstairs, and I couldn't eat any breakfast; I felt as
if I could never eat again. Mrs Forbes came into the room just as I
left the table, and Lorna went out at once, as if by a previous
arrangement. It was awful! Mrs Forbes looked so old and ill and
worried, and she was so kind. I could have borne it better if she had
been cross to me.

"Sit down, dear. Come close to the fire, your hands feel cold," she
said,