w from Cyn's extraordinary outburst--Nattie stood looking
guiltily at the floor a few moments, then recovering herself, she went
to Cyn, and said, in a voice full of emotion,

"I do not just comprehend your meaning, dear, but it may be you think I
might not quite like the idea, on account of that--that first affair on
the wire. If so, dismiss the thought. You and Clem are suited to each
other, and--" Nattie stopped, unable to continue.

Cyn, who had been beating the innocent pillow, as if it was the cause of
all this, while Nattie was speaking, now threw it across the room, as
she exclaimed.

"Oh! the perversity of human nature! Oh! you degenerate girl! As if I
cared for Clem in that way! Have I not from the first set my heart on
this real-life romance ending in the only way it could rightfully end?"

A sudden light came into Nattie's face, but it died away in a moment.

"Then you do not care for him? Poor Clem!" she said, in a low voice.

"Poor Clem, indeed!" cried Cyn, pacing the floor excitedly. "I
cannot--no, I cannot--believe it of him! He certainly has sagacity
enough not to run his head against a beam in broad daylight, even--"

"If Jo had not," she was about to add, but checked herself suddenly. Not
for the world would she betray Jo's confidence. What had passed between
them to-day should be a secret always, never again to be mentioned--but
never forgotten in the friendship and companionship of after years.

"You must be very difficult to suit, dear, if you do not like Clem!"
said Nattie, with unconscious significance, after waiting in vain for
Cyn to finish her sentence.

"It is not that," replied Cyn, somewhat sadly. "Do you not know I have
only one love,--music?"

"Poor Clem!" again said Nattie, from the depths of her tender heart.
"For I know he loves you, dear. He could not help it, who could?"

Such words would have been sweet to the vanity of an ordinary woman. But
on Cyn they had a very opposite effect.

"Things have come to a pretty pass if one can not laugh and joke, and
enjoy one's self with friends without being made love to!" she said,
annoyed. Then looking scrutinizingly at Nattie, she asked,

"And you--did you really wish Clem and I might love each other?"

Nattie played nervously with the fringe of her dress, hesitated, then
replied in a low tone,

"I fear I did not, Cyn!"

"Then it may come right yet!" exclaimed Cyn, hopefully.

Nattie shook her head.

"And he loving you? Oh