ou don't see things fairly,
Frances.'

Frances recognised the sense of Jacinth's argument, but she could not
explain herself.

'I didn't mean that exactly,' she said. 'I know there have to be degrees
of things--rich and poor, and I suppose it's not wrong to be rich,
if--if one doesn't get selfish. That isn't what I meant. I'm very
pleased you've got the watch, Jass, and I wish I hadn't said that.'

'I wish you hadn't too,' said her sister. 'It has taken away a good deal
of my pleasure; and somehow, Frances, very often now, I don't understand
you. I know you are never the least jealous, you haven't it in you, but
yet you don't seem to like to see me happy. I could almost think you are
what Aunt Alison would call "morbid."'

'I don't think I know what that means,' said Frances, sadly, though she
had a sort of idea what Jacinth wished to express.

'Sometimes,' continued Jacinth, 'I have a feeling that other girls have
come between you and me. If it could be--if I really thought it was the
Harpers, though they do seem nice, I would almost hate them. One way and
another, they do seem to have been the cause of a lot of worry.'

'Oh Jass, it isn't their fault--truly it isn't,' pleaded Frances, almost
in tears. 'I haven't been very happy lately, but indeed it isn't that
I'm changed to you. Perhaps after a while you'll understand me better.
If only mamma was at home'----

'It's no good wishing for that,' replied Jacinth. 'And you are so queer,
I really don't know if you'd be pleased if things did happen to make
mamma come home. I was going to tell you some things,' she added
mysteriously, 'but I think I'd better not.'

And, to her surprise, her hints, instead of whetting her sister's
curiosity, seemed rather to alarm her.

'No,' she agreed, 'if it's anything about Lady----or, or _plans_, I'd
rather not know. I hate any sort of secret.'

She said the last few words almost roughly, and Jacinth, in spite of
her irritation, felt sorry for her. It was evident that poor little
Frances had something on her mind. But the elder sister did not invite
her confidence.

'I believe it _has_ to do with these girls,' she thought, 'and if it
has, I don't want to know it. So Frances and I are quits; she doesn't
want my secrets and I don't want hers. Honor Falmouth says it is
uncertain if the Harpers will stay after Christmas. I'm sure I hope they
won't. Frances would forget all about them once they were away. She is
such a baby.'