o days in succession."

And she went off holding her head very high, being driven to the village
by Jack. Arrived at the Morgans', she was warmly greeted by all.

"So good of you to come," murmured Bronson; "now we can start from here
on our drive, and go over to Blue Hill."

"I think I can't go to drive to-day. I--I thought perhaps we could play
tennis instead."

"Oh, Miss Edith! After your promise? I am not going to let you off so
easily. No, indeed; we are going to drive. It is a fine day, and I've
engaged a gay little mare at the livery-stable."

Edith remonstrated feebly, but Bronson would not listen.

When she and Gertrude were alone she said:

"Why don't you go too? We might all go to Blue Hill."

"No indeed!" laughed Gertrude. "I am not going a step. I haven't been
asked, and I wouldn't intrude."

"But it would be such fun," persisted Edith; "you know we used to go in
a crowd, and walk up the hill."

"Times have changed," returned her friend, pointedly. "This time you are
asked to go alone. If it were any one but you, Edith, I should be wildly
jealous."

Edith blushed and looked conscious, and afterwards when Bronson renewed
his pleading she consented to go with him. Unless they chanced to meet
some of the family, why need she tell that she had been to drive at all?

Thus she deceived herself into thinking that she was doing no wrong, and
gave herself up to the enjoyment of the moment.

That afternoon Mrs. Parker, Miss Betsey Trinkett's old friend, called at
Oakleigh.

"So glad to find you at home, Mrs. Franklin," she said. "I met Edith a
while ago, and she did look so sweet and pretty, driving with that nice
young man that stays at the Morgans'. What's his name?"

"You cannot mean Mr. Bronson?"

"Bronson, yes; that's it--Bronson. Yes, they were driving away over
towards Milton. And now do tell me about your brother. They say all
kinds of things in Brenton, but you can't believe half of them. I dare
say you know just where he is, after all."

"My brother went to Philadelphia, Mrs. Parker," said her hostess,
controlling herself with difficulty. The shock of hearing that Edith had
directly disobeyed her was almost too much for her.

"To Philadelphia! Have you friends there?"

"Yes, I have a cousin."

"Well, now, I'm glad to hear that! I'll just tell people and stop their
tongues; they do say so much they don't mean. Why, only this afternoon
somebody said they'd been told that Neal Gordon h