married Geoffrey it would be as
bad as a public refutation of all the principles which I had professed
since childhood. Then she called him names, and I got angry. We didn't
speak a word all through lunch, and as soon as it was over she sent for
a fly to drive to the Manor. She's there still!"

"Shut up with Madame, hatching the plan of campaign! Madame won't like
it any better, I suppose!"

Elma flushed miserably.

"No; she's against us, too! Geoffrey told her what he was coming for,
and--isn't it curious?--she was quite surprised! She had not suspected
a bit, and I'm afraid she was pretty cross. Geoffrey wouldn't let me
say it, but I know she doesn't think me good enough. I'm not; that's
quite true. No one knows it better than I."

"If you say that again, I'll shake you! You're a heap too good for the
best man that ever lived. Mind now, Elma, don't start out on this
business by eating humble pie! You've got to hold up your end of the
stick for all you're worth, and let them see you won't be sat upon.
When you feel redooced, go and sit in front of the glass for a spell,
and ask yourself if he won't be a lucky man to have that vista across
the table all the rest of his life. Don't be humble with _him_,
whatever happens! Make him believe he's got the pick of the bundle!"

"He--he does!" said Elma, and blushed again. "It makes me ashamed to
hear him talk about me, for I know I am really so different. He would
not have thought me so sweet if he had heard me scolding mother this
morning. Poor mother! I'm so terribly sorry for her. It must be hard
to care for a child for twenty-three years, as she says, and then have
to step aside for a stranger. I sympathised with every word she said,
and knew that I should have felt the same. My head was with her all the
time, but my heart"--she clasped her hands to her side with the
prettiest of gestures--"my heart was with Geoffrey! Reason's not a bit
of use, Cornelia, when you're in love."

"Well!" said Cornelia, firmly, "my heart's got to wait and behave
itself, until my head goes along at the same pace. I've not kept it in
order for twenty-three years to have it weaken at the last moment. I'll
stick to my guns, whatever it may cost."

Elma looked at her with surprised curiosity.

"Why, you talk as if, as if you were in love, too! I wish you _were_!
We could sympathise with each other so beautifully. _Are_ you in love,
Cornelia? You never said so be