trary."

"Oh, Gertrude knows," said Fanny. "Gertrude knows all about Mr.
Sullivan; she will tell you."

All turned, and looked at Gertrude, who, with face flushed, and eyes
glistening with the interest she felt in Miss Patty's narrative, stood
leaning upon Emily's chair. Miss Patty now appealed to her, much
surprised, however, at her having any knowledge of her much admired
young escort. Gertrude drew near, and answered all her questions without
the least hesitation or embarrassment.

Gertrude gave Miss Pace an account of the curiosity which Willie and his
friends had felt concerning the original author of his good fortune; and
the old lady was so delighted at hearing the various conjectures about
Mr. Clinton's unexpected summons, and of the matter being attributed to
the agency of Santa Claus, that she loudly laughed. Miss Pace was just
taxing Gertrude with messages of remembrance to be despatched in her
next letter to Willie, when Mrs. Graham presented herself, and arrested
the attention of the whole company by exclaiming, in her abrupt manner
and loud tones--"What! are you all here? I thought you were bound for a
walk in the woods. Kitty, what has become of your cherished scheme of
climbing Sunset Hill?"

"I proposed it, aunt, an hour ago, but Belle insisted it was too warm.
_I_ think the weather is just right for a walk."

"It will soon be growing cool," said Mrs. Graham, "and I think you had
better start; it is some distance, if you go round through the woods."

"Who knows the way?" asked Kitty.

No one responded to the question, and all professed ignorance; much to
the astonishment of Gertrude, who believed that every part of the woody
ground and hill beyond were familiar to Mr. Bruce. She did not stay,
however, to hear any further discussion of their plans; for Emily was
beginning to suffer from headache and weariness, and Gertrude insisted
that she should seek the quiet of her own room, and she went with her.
She was just closing the chamber door, when Fanny called from the
staircase, "Miss Gertrude ain't you going for a walk with us?"

"No," replied Gertrude; "not to-day."

"Then I won't go," said Fanny, "if you don't. Why don't you go, Miss
Gertrude?"

"I shall walk with Miss Emily, by-and-bye, if she is well enough; you
can accompany us, if you like, but you would enjoy going to Sunset Hill
much more."

Meantime a whispered consultation took place below, in which someone
suggested that Gertrude