you are weak enough to do that, there is no use in my trying."

"Trying what?" wondered Hope, and said vaguely, "The two cases are
scarcely similar."

"Perhaps not, but how could you consistently call me weak to yield to
wine, if you are to be helpful and kind one minute, and scornful the
next? You said you would help me to win over Miss Faith, and I thought
you also tacitly promised me help in another way. Are you going back
on everything, now?"

"No, indeed!" cried Hope, fully comprehending at last. ("So he talked
Faith over, thinking it was I--and she let him think so--sly puss! I
didn't believe it was in her!") Then aloud, "I will do what I can, of
course, but Faith, though seeming so gentle, has a strain of
obstinacy--"

"Yes, you hinted at that before."

("Indeed!" laughed the girl inside, "how well she did it!")

"But she is so fond of you, and I long to be friends with both."

"Yes?" interpolated Hope, with an indifferent accent.

"Yes," strongly; "but if I can't have her friendship, I still plead for
yours. You can help me--you have helped me already."

"But if she won't listen to me?" queried the girl, keeping her amused
eyes lowered.

"Then give it up, and I will bear her displeasure; but don't double it
by adding your own."

"Then, possibly, I had better not say anything--"

"And keep the matter to ourselves?" eagerly.

"Why, y-yes, for the present, at least."

"All right! I'm willing. Only you'll ignore me when she's by, I'm
afraid."

Hope turned suddenly away, almost unable to control her laughter.

"I ought to ignore you always," she said, "but--"

"But you won't, I'm sure! And, in time, even she will see how I have
improved, and relent towards me."

"Do you think so?" asked Hope in a smothered tone.

"Indeed I do! She is too sweet and fine a girl to hold resentment, I'm
sure. I'll win her over yet!"

"Well, you might try," said the naughty girl in a tone of doubtful
assent, "but my sister is not one to be trifled with, and you were wise
to come to me. If you ever do speak to her, I wouldn't advise you to
repeat this conversation--" and, chuckling amusedly, Hope sped on her
way, leaving Allyne in great contentment of mind. He looked after her
with a smile.

"It was lucky I tackled the right one!" he muttered. "The other is
lovely; I suppose, but I like a little more force and fire. In spite
of their resemblance it's easy enough to tell them apart when one is
rea