re with an air of
real concern Emma stole her arm round her friend's waist--"did you ever
see anybody whom you fancied you could like, if he asked you?"

Agatha laughed, but the colour was rising in her brown cheek. "Tut, tut,
what nonsense!"

"Look at me, dear, and answer seriously."

Agatha, thus hemmed in, turned her face full round, and said, with
some dignity, "I do not know, Emma, what right you have to ask me that
question."

"Ah, it is so; I feared it was," sighed Emma, not in the least offended.
"I often thought so, even before he hinted"------

"Who hinted--and what?"

"I can't tell you; I promised not. And of course you ought not to know.
Oh, dear, what am I letting out!" added poor Mrs. Thornycroft, in much
discomfiture.

"Emma, you will make me angry. What ridiculous notion have you got
into your head? What on earth do you mean?" cried Miss Bowen, speaking
quicker than her usual quick fashion, and dashing the kitten off her
knee as she rose.

"Don't be vexed with me, my poor dear girl. It may not be so--I hope
not; and even if it were, he is so handsome, so agreeable, and talks so
beautifully--I am sure you are not the first woman by many a dozen that
has been in love with him."

"With whom?" was the sharp question, as Agatha grew quite pale.

"I must not say.--Ah, yes--I must. It may be a mere supposition. I wish
you would only tell me so, and set my mind at rest, and his too. He is
quite unhappy about it, poor man, as I see. Though, to be sure, he could
not help it, even if you did care for him."

"Him--what 'him?'"

"Major Harper."

Agatha's storm of passion sank to a dead calm. She sat down again
composedly, turning her flushed cheeks from the light.

"This is a new and very entertaining story. You will be kind enough,
Emma, to tell me the whole, from beginning to end."

"It all lies in a nutshell, my dear. Oh, how glad I am that you take it
so quietly. Then, perhaps it is all a mistake, arising from your hearty
manner to every one. I told him so, and said that he need not scruple
visiting you, or be in the least afraid that"----

"That I was in love with him? He _was_ afraid, then? He informed you so?
Very kind of him! I am very much obliged to Major Harper."

"There now--off you go again. Oh, if you would but be patient"

"Patient--when the only friend I had insults me!--when I have neither
father, nor brother,--nobody--nobody"----

She stopped, and her throat choked; but the