ed under the touch of those fresh young lips, but she
answered, patiently:

"I will bear up alone; don't think about it."

"Oh, I shouldn't," cried Elsie, frankly, "only you make me."

Elizabeth looked at her in astonishment.

"You needn't stare so," said Elsie, in an injured tone; "I know I am not
a deep, strong character, like you. But let me rest--let me enjoy my
little mite of sunshine!"

"I will not overshadow it," Elizabeth answered, "be certain of that.
But, oh, Elsie, it's so dreadful to bear this constant fear! If Grantley
should find out anything--he is so suspicious----"

"There you go again!" broke in Elsie. "I vow I wont live in the house
with you if you act in this way! Just as one is getting a little
comfortable you begin all this again. I can't stand it; and I won't."

Elizabeth did not reply. She looked at Elsie again with a mingled
expression of astonishment and fear; but a strange sort of pity softened
the glance.

"There shall be no more of it, Elsie," she said, after a long silence,
during which Elsie had shivered herself quiet once more. "I ought to
have borne this trouble alone from the first."

"That's a nice darling!" cried Elsie. "Nothing will happen, I am sure of
it. Just hope for the best; look at everything as settled and over with.
Things don't keep coming up to one as they do in a novel."

Elizabeth said no more, she stood leaning against the window frame and
watched Elsie as she arranged her ringlets before the glass, and called
back the brilliant smiles which softened her face into something so
youthful and pretty. Then they heard a voice from below, which made them
both start.

"It's Grantley," said Elsie. "It sounds so odd to hear his voice! Open
the door, Bessie; I am ready."

She ran to the head of the stairs, while Elizabeth followed slowly.

"Are you calling, Grant?" demanded Elsie, looking down at him as he
stood at the foot of the stairs.

"Calling! I should think so! Are you both going to stay up there for
ever? Dinner is ready."

"And so are we," cried Elsie, "and coming, Mr. Impatience."

Downstairs she tripped, humming a tune and making a little spring into
her brother's arms when she reached the lower step.

She was such a dainty little thing, so light and graceful in all her
movements, with such childish ways, such power of persuasion and
coquetry, so light-hearted and frivolous, that it was quite impossible
not to love her and treat her as if she were