ad for half an hour she glanced out of the window and
saw two figures issuing from the path through the woods. The knot of
bright hair and the coquettish hat could belong to but one person; and
her companion, as the couple approached, proved to be none other than
Mr. Aladdin. Huldah was lifting her skirts daintily and picking safe
stepping-places for the high-heeled shoes, her cheeks glowing, her eyes
sparkling under the black and white veil.

Rebecca slipped from her post by the window to the rug before the
bright fire and leaned her head on the seat of the great easy-chair.
She was frightened at the storm in her heart; at the suddenness with
which it had come on, as well as at the strangeness of an entirely new
sensation. She felt all at once as if she could not bear to give up her
share of Mr. Aladdin's friendship to Huldah: Huldah so bright, saucy,
and pretty; so gay and ready, and such good company! She had always
joyfully admitted Emma Jane into the precious partnership, but perhaps
unconsciously to herself she had realized that Emma Jane had never held
anything but a secondary place in Mr. Aladdin's regard; yet who was she
herself, after all, that she could hope to be first?

Suddenly the door opened softly and somebody looked in, somebody who
said: "Miss Maxwell told me I should find Miss Rebecca Randall here."

Rebecca started at the sound and sprang to her feet, saying joyfully,
"Mr. Aladdin! Oh! I knew you were in Wareham, and I was afraid you
wouldn't have time to come and see us."

"Who is 'us'? The aunts are not here, are they? Oh, you mean the rich
blacksmith's daughter, whose name I can never remember. Is she here?"

"Yes, and my room-mate," answered Rebecca, who thought her own knell of
doom had sounded, if he had forgotten Emma Jane's name.

The light in the room grew softer, the fire crackled cheerily, and they
talked of many things, until the old sweet sense of friendliness and
familiarity crept back into Rebecca's heart. Adam had not seen her for
several months, and there was much to be learned about school matters
as viewed from her own standpoint; he had already inquired concerning
her progress from Mr. Morrison.

"Well, little Miss Rebecca," he said, rousing himself at length, "I
must be thinking of my drive to Portland. There is a meeting of railway
directors there to-morrow, and I always take this opportunity of
visiting the school and giving my valuable advice concerning its
affairs, ed