t at
once.

"I have guessed your little _penchant_, dear, for some one we won't talk
about, for indeed, Bluebell, it never can come to any thing; you are both
too young and too poor. It would be a most undesirable connexion."

"She doesn't think me grand enough for her brother," suggested Bluebell's
wounded pride.

"And, therefore," pursued her Mentor, "absence is the best thing in these
cases; and when you come back I trust you will have got rid of such
hopeless fancies."

Bluebell was deeply mortified,--she lost all expectation of sympathy, and
with a touch of pride, said,--"You must know best, Mrs. Rolleston, but I
shall never care for any one else; and I must tell you honestly, _I_
can't give it up if he doesn't."

"You will not see him at home?" said the elder lady, hastily. Such a
gleam of hope irradiated Bluebell's face; she had never thought of that.

"Dear me, this is too bad!" continued the other, quite disheartened. "I
shall take care you have no more opportunities of meeting here. Bluebell,
do be warned. I only speak for your good."

"How self-interest deceives one," moralized the girl; "it is only because
I am, as she says, 'a most undesirable connexion for her brother!'"

Cecil entered at this juncture, and Bluebell, hearing the Colonel's step
also approaching, made a hasty escape from the room.

"What is the matter with her?" asked Cecil. "She brushed by me so
suddenly, and looked so strange."

"Nearly knocked me over," said the Colonel, who had caught the last
words.

"Don't notice it; I am afraid Bluebell has lost her heart to young
Vavasour; and she is miserable at going home, because she thinks she will
not see him."

"I am delighted you have put a stop to that folly," said the Colonel;
"that boy dawdles over here every afternoon. I can't have Miss Bluebell's
'followers' everlastingly caterwauling in my house."

An expression of extreme astonishment came over Cecil's face.

"Bluebell doesn't care _in the least_ for Jack Vavasour," said she.

"You are evidently not in her confidence. She told me 'she should never
care for any one else'--her very words, the little goose."

Cecil seemed lost in perplexity. "And she doesn't want to go home?" asked
she in a bewildered manner.

"Crying her eyes out at this moment I dare say."

"Then for goodness sake let her go home, and stay there till she
is better," said the Colonel, irritably. "A love lorn young lady
perpetually before me I cannot