talk like that I shall give way. Why can't you try
and forget it? I will. Be sure of that!"

Elizabeth rose from her seat; a wan, hopeless look came over her face.

"You are right; let us be silent. But, oh, if I only could forget--but I
can't, Elsie--I can't! The thought is with me day and night. The
dread--the fear!"

"Be still!" shrieked Elsie, breaking into a passion of which no one
would have believed her capable, and stamping her foot upon the carpet.
"You'll drive me mad. I shall go into spasms, and then who knows what
may happen! I won't promise not to speak if you drive me crazy."

All the youthful brilliancy was frightened out of her face, her lips
turned blue, her whole frame shook so violently that Elizabeth saw
absolute danger unless the girl were soothed back to calmness.

"I won't torment you any more, Elsie," she said. "I'll bear it
alone--I'll bear it alone."

"One can always forget if one is determined," said Elsie; "but you
won't--you will brood over things----"

"I shall be more myself, now," interrupted Elizabeth. "It was from
seeing Grantley so unexpectedly, just when I was waiting for----"

"Be still!" interrupted Elsie, sharply. "I won't hear that--I won't hear
anything; you shall not force unpleasant things upon me."

The sister and the sister-in-law stood opposite each other, oppressed by
the same secret, but bearing it so differently. Elsie's share seemed to
be only a burdensome knowledge of some mystery; no evil seemed to
threaten her in its discovery, but deep sympathy appeared to have broken
through her careless nature, moulding it into something grand. She was
the first to recover from the cold, shivering distress which had come
over both; the volatile, impressible creature could not dwell long
enough upon one subject, however painful it might be, to produce the
effect which even slight trouble had upon a character like Elizabeth's.

"You look like a ghost," she cried, in sudden irritation. "It is cruel,
Bessie, to frighten me in this way. You know what a weak, nervous little
thing I am. It is wicked of you!"

Elizabeth turned slowly towards the door.

"Be at peace, if you can," she said; "I will trouble you no more."

"Now you are angry!" cried Elsie.

"No, dear, not angry."

"Kiss me, then, and make up," said Elsie, with a return of childish
playfulness. "I'll help you all I can, but you mustn't put too much on
me; you know I'm not strong, like you."

Elizabeth trembl