e lightly laid his hand on her hand, and when she did not
resent it clasped it more firmly. Her face flushed, but she suffered the
hand to remain.

Elizabeth was called from the room by some visitors. When they had
finally gone she came back to her former seat. She saw a new brother, a
different one from the one she knew. He was talking in a boisterous
tone.

"When are you going to kiss me good-bye, Dot?" he asked.

"Right at the station," she answered laughingly.

"Honour bright?" He asked.

"Honour bright," she promised.

"You are all right," he exclaimed. "Rose is too bashful for that." Then
he hinted, "But you see I am going to take her home to-night."

Rose coloured as he gave her a significant look. She pushed his hand
from her arm and walked to the piano. But there was a wavering, an
uncertainty in her face. He had been her comrade so long and she really
liked him.

The watching sister made a quick decision. When the girls rose to go,
she stood up saying, "Floyd, I want you and John to watch the house. I
have to see Rose's mother to-night; to-morrow you can see the girls
again."

There came a flush of annoyance on the boyish face, followed by one of
anger. He knew his sister had been listening. But he was still too loyal
to criticize her to John, who, when they were alone, openly denounced
her for her meddling.

* * * * *

When she returned Floyd was alone. He sat sulky and silent. She busied
herself with the household cares for a few minutes. Soon she went over
to the lounge and sat down beside him. She put her arm around him and
kissed his forehead. "Let's don't be angry on our last night," she
begged.

"Why did you do it?" he asked. "I know you heard what I said to Rose,
but what is she to you?"

"A great deal," she responded, "but not so much as the boy I love so
dearly--the boy I have been a mother to, and yet I haven't been a true
mother, for I never have talked to you of these things because they were
hard. You see I have failed in my duty."

Instantly he was all tenderness. He drew her down into his boyish long
arms and laid his head against hers. "You have not failed in anything,
you darling!" he cried. "But it wouldn't hurt me. I'm a man. All the
fellows do that way."

"How do you know?"

"They tell about it. We don't all talk about it in a crowd, but just
when we are together, like John and me."

"Does John treat Rose that way?"

The boy grew war