have suited her at all.

Nan, who possessed more sweetness of temper than keenness of
psychological insight, could not understand what had come to Phillis.
She was absent, a trifle sad, and yet full of retort. At times she
seemed to brim over with a wordy wisdom that made no sort of
impression.

One evening, as they were retiring to bed, Nan beckoned her into her
little room, and shut the door. Then she placed a seat invitingly by
the open window, which was pleasantly framed by jasmine; and then she
took hold of Phillis's shoulders in a persuasive manner.

"Now, dear," she said, coaxingly, "you shall just tell me all about
it."

Phillis looked up, a little startled. Then, as she met Nan's gentle,
penetrative glance, she presented a sudden blank of non-comprehension,
most telling on such occasions, and yawned slightly.

"What do you mean, Nannie?" in a somewhat bored tone.

"Come, dear, tell me," continued Nan, with cheerful pertinacity. "You
are never dull or touchy without some good reason. What has been the
matter the last few days? Are you vexed or disappointed about
anything? Are you sure--quite sure you are pleased about Dick?"--the
idea occurring to her suddenly that Phillis might not approve of their
imprudent engagement.

"Oh, Nannie, how absurd you are!" returned Phillis, pettishly. "Have I
not told you a dozen times since Wednesday how delighted I am that you
have come to an understanding? Have I not sounded his praises until I
was hoarse? Why, if I had been in love with Dick myself I could not
have talked about him more."

"Yes, I know you have been very good, dear; but still I felt there was
something."

"Oh, dear, no!" returned Phillis decidedly, and her voice was a little
hard. "The fact is, you are in the seventh heaven yourself, and you
expect us to be there too. Not that I wonder at you, Nannie, because
Dick--dear old fellow--is ever so nice."

She threw in this last clause not without intention, and of course the
tempting bait took at once.

"I never knew any one half so good," replied Nan, in a calmly
satisfied tone. "You have hinted once or twice, Phil, that you thought
him rather too young,--that our being the same age was a pity; but--do
you know?--in Dick's case it does not matter in the least. No man
double his age could have made his meaning more plain, or have spoken
better to the purpose. He is so strong and self-reliant and manly: and
with all his fun, he is so unselfish."