ppened to distress you? Your eyes look as though you had been
weeping. Dear Bertha! what ails you?"

"I could not bear it any longer," almost sobbed Bertha, laying her head
upon her cousin's shoulder. "I could not help coming to you, though I
wanted to act entirely upon my own responsibility, and I had determined
not even to consult you, for I am always fearful of getting you into
trouble with my aunt."

Madeleine was so completely mystified that she could only murmur half
to herself, "More enigmas! What can they mean?"

Then, passing her arm around Bertha's slender waist, they walked to the
summer-house. The position of Bertha's head caused her bright ringlets
completely to veil her face, and it was not until after she entered the
_chalet_, and shook the blinding locks from before her eyes, that she
saw Maurice. She drew back with a movement of vexation and confusion
never before evinced at his presence,--clung to Madeleine as though for
protection, and seemed on the point of bursting into tears.

"Maurice came here expecting to find you with me," observed Madeleine.
"He wanted to speak to you."

"Did he?--yes, I know he did. I know what he is going to say; I kept out
of his way on purpose, until I could make up my mind about it all; I
mean, I thought it best to postpone; but it does not matter,--I would
rather have it over; no,--I don't mean _that_,--I mean"--

Bertha's perturbation rendered any clearer expression of her meaning out
of the question.

Madeleine took up the dress, which Maurice had flung upon the table, and
said, "When you return to the house, Bertha, will you not come to my
room and try on your dress? It is just completed."

"Stay, stay, Madeleine!" exclaimed Bertha and Maurice together.

"You see, we _both_ desire you to stay," added Maurice; "therefore you
cannot refuse. We have no secrets from you,--have we, Bertha?"

"_I_ had none until yesterday; but my aunt is inclined to be so severe
with Madeleine, that I feared I might make mischief by taking her into
my confidence. Do not go, Madeleine. Sit down, for you _must_ stay. If
you go, I will go with you; and Maurice wants to speak to me,--I mean, I
want to speak to him,--that is to say, he intends to"--

Madeleine resumed her seat.

"Since you so tyrannically insist upon my remaining, I will finish this
garland while you are having your mysterious explanation."

Maurice approached Bertha with a hesitation which had some slight touch
o