e fast becoming
excellent friends.

They had sent for Iris Vincent to become Dorothy's companion, but it was
whispered among the old servants of the household that she was proving
herself to be more frequently the companion of Mr. Kendal, and they
talked about it in alarm, wondering how it would all end. They felt
indignant, too, that such a bold flirtation--for it had certainly come
to that--should be carried on right in the face of poor, blind Dorothy.

"Some one ought to give her a hint of what is going on," cried indignant
little Katy, the maid. But there was no one who could find it in his or
her heart to warn her of what was transpiring. The blow would be more
than she could bear, for she loved Harry Kendal better than life itself.

They wondered if little Dorothy guessed that he led Iris to the table,
while she, blind as she was, groped her way as best she could to her own
seat. They hated to see him lavish attentions on the beauty, and it
drove them almost out of their self-possession to see their eyes meet in
that provoking, mutual smile.

Dorothy was beginning to feel Harry's neglect, but no thought of the
true cause of it ever dawned upon her.

Ah! could she have seen how they paced the grounds together arm in arm,
and how near they sat together on the step of the front porch, and in
what a lover-like manner he bent his dark head over her little, white
hands, the sight would have killed Dorothy.

"I wonder if they think we are fools!" whispered the servants,
indignantly, one to the other; and their blood boiled with rage at this
open love-making.

But even the attention of handsome Harry Kendal seemed to pall upon the
beauty. Gray Gables was dull; she wanted more life, more gayety.

"Why not give a grand ball," she suggested, "and invite the whole
country-side?"

She longed for more hearts to conquer. Iris was one of those vain,
shallow girls who must and will have a sentimental flirtation with some
young man always on hand. She, like those of her mischievous class,
really meant no harm while doing a great deal of wrong. Such a girl,
from mere vanity and pastime, will try to outshine a companion and even
win the heart of a betrothed lover from his sweetheart, caring little
for the broken vows and the ruined lives strewn along her path.

Harry Kendal seized eagerly upon the idea, because it would please Iris.
Mrs. Kemp knew no other than her beautiful, willful niece's pleasure. No
one consulted Dor