ur rules to tell that. But you said an 'anonymous
letter.' Was your friend so weak as to believe an anonymous letter? The
writer of such a letter is a coward, and a coward always is a liar.
Show me your friend's anonymous letter. I may, perhaps, be able to
throw a light on it."

The conversation was interrupted by Admiral Bruce, who had approached
them unobserved. "Excuse me," said he, "but you ladies seem to have hit
upon a very interesting theme."

"Yes, papa," said Bella. "I took the liberty to question this lady as
to her experiences of sick-beds, and she was good enough to give me
some of them."

Having uttered this with a sudden appearance of calmness that first
amazed the Sister, then made her smile, she took her father's arm,
bowed politely, and a little stiffly, to her new friend, and drew the
admiral away.

"Oh!" thought the Sister. "I am not to speak to the old gentleman. He
is not in her confidence. Yet she is very fond of him. How she hangs on
his arm! Simplicity! Candor! We are all tarred with the same stick--we
women."

That night Bella was a changed girl--exalted and depressed by turns,
and with no visible reason.

Her father was pleased. Anything better than that deadly languor.

The next day Bella sat by her father's side in the square, longing to
go to the Sister, yet patiently waiting to be ordered.

At last the admiral, finding her dull and listless, said, "Why don't
you go and talk to the Sister? She amuses you. I'll join you when I
have smoked this cigar."

The obedient Bella rose, and went toward the Sister as if compelled.
But when she got to her her whole manner changed. She took her warmly
by the hand, and said, trembling and blushing, and all on fire, "I have
brought you the anonymous letter."

The elder actress took it and ran her eye over it--an eye that now
sparkled like a diamond. "Humph!" said she, and flung off all the
dulcet tones of her assumed character with mighty little ceremony.
"This hand is disguised a little, but I think I know it. I am sure I
do! The dirty little rascal!"

"Madam!" cried Bella, aghast with surprise at this language.

"I tell you I know the writer and his rascally motive. You must lend me
this for a day or two."

"Must I?" said Bella. "Excuse me! Papa would be so angry."

"Very likely; but you will lend it to me for all that; for with this I
can clear Miss Bruce's lover and defeat his enemies."

Bella uttered a faint cry, and trembled, and h