us eyes, looked unsmilingly into Rose's smiling face.

"Nobody knows. It--it isn't going right, Rose. I can't tell you about
all of it----" She paused.

"Well, I wouldn't know the people if you did," Rose said, sensibly. And
suddenly she added, timidly, "Norma, there isn't another girl?"

"Well, yes, there is, in a way," Norma conceded, after thought.

"That he likes better?" Rose asked, quickly.

"No, I don't think he likes her better!" Norma answered.

"Well, then----?" Rose summarized, triumphantly.

But there was no answering flash from Norma, who was looking down again,
and who still wore a troubled expression, although, as Rose rejoiced to
see, it was less bitter than it had been.

"Rose," she said, gravely, "if he was already bound in honour; if he
was--promised, to her?"

Rose's eyes expressed quick sympathy.

"Norma! You mean engaged? But then how did he ever come to care for
you?" she followed it up anxiously.

"I don't know!" Norma said, with a shrug.

"But, Nono, why do you think he _does_ like you? Has he said so?"

Norma had freed her hand, and pulled on her rough little cream-coloured
gloves. Now she spread her five fingers, and looked at them with
slightly raised brows and slightly compressed lips.

"No," she said, briefly and quietly.

Rose's face was full of distress. Again she reached for Norma's fingers.

"Dearest--I'm so sorry! But--but it doesn't make you feel very badly,
does it, Norma?"

Norma did not answer.

"Ah, it does!" Rose said, pitifully. "Are you so sure you care?"

At this Norma laughed, glanced for a moment into far space, shook her
head. And for a few minutes there was utter silence in the plain little
bedroom. Then the baby began to fuss and grope, and to make little
sneezing faces in his cocoon of blankets.

"Just one more word, dear," Rose said, later, when Aunt Kate had come
flying in, and carried off the new treasure, and when Norma was standing
before the mirror adjusting her wide-brimmed summer hat. "If he cares
for you, it's much, much better to make the change now, Norma, than to
wait until it's too late! No matter how hard, or how unpleasant it
is----"

"I know," Norma agreed, quickly, painfully, stooping to kiss her. "We'll
be down next month, Rose, and then I'll see you oftener!"

"When do you go?" Rose said, clinging to her hand.

"Go back to Newport? To-morrow. Or at least we get to Great Barrington
to-morrow, and we may stay there with the Ri