the jest. She even got up a little
frown, like her mother's on similar occasions.

"Archie is so generous, dear old fellow!" continued Mrs. Drummond,
breaking out afresh after a minute's interval, as she skilfully
manipulated the veil. "That is what I always say. There never was such
a son or brother. Do you think he is overworking, Grace, or that
Mattie really looks after him well? But he strikes me as a little
thin,--and--yes--perhaps a little grave."

Grace's lips closed with an expression of pain. But her mother was
looking at her and she must answer.

"Well, if you ask me, mother," she returned, a little huskily, "I do
not think Archie looks very well, or in his usual spirits; but I am
sure Mattie takes good care of him," she continued, with careful
veracity.

"Humph! I am sorry to find you endorsing my opinion," replied Mrs.
Drummond, thoughtfully. "I hoped you would say it was my fancy. He has
not said anything to you that makes you uneasy?" with a touch of her
old sharpness, remembering that Grace, and not she, was Archie's
confidante; but Grace replied so quickly and decidedly, "Oh, no,
mother; we have not exchanged a word together since he and Mattie
arrived," that her maternal jealousy was allayed.

But the next night, when she was alone with him for a few minutes, she
was struck afresh by the gravity of his look as he sat by the window,
pretending to read, but for the last half-hour he had not turned his
page.

"A penny for your thoughts, my son!" she said, so archly and abruptly
that Archie started, and his brow grew crimson at finding himself
watched.

"Oh, they were nothing particular," he stammered; and then he said
something about the fineness of the evening, and the possibility of
his father coming in in time for a long walk.

But Mrs. Drummond was not to be put off so easily. She left her seat,
where she had been sewing as usual, and came and stood beside him a
moment. He would have jumped up and given her his own chair, but she
pressed his shoulder gently, as though to forbid the movement.

"I like to stand, Archie. Yes, it is a lovely evening; but I think you
ought to ask Grace, and not your father, to accompany you. Grace was
always your companion, you know, and you must not drop old habits too
suddenly." Then Archie saw that his avoidance of Grace had been
marked.

"Very well, I will ask her," he returned; but he showed none of his
old alacrity and spirit in claiming his favorite.