ell him all about it?"

"My mother? No; she would have given worlds to hide it from him. Edna
told him herself that she was going in her last letter. Oh, you don't
know Edna," as Bessie looked extremely surprised at this; "her chief
virtue is truthfulness. She will defy you to your face, and trample on
all your prejudices, but she will never hide anything."

"And she actually told Mr. Sinclair?"

"Yes she did it to tease him, I believe, because his last letter did not
please her. Sinclair has to put up with a good deal, I can tell you, but
he wrote back in a great hurry, begging her not to carry out her plan.
Sinclair told us both this evening that he could not have written a
stronger letter. He told her that he had good reasons for wishing her to
see as little as possible of Captain Grant. And when he came down just
to give her a pleasant surprise, as he had a leisure evening, it was
quite a shock to him to find his entreaties had been disregarded, and
that she had actually gone after all. He is excessively hurt, and no
wonder, to find Edna has so little respect for his wishes."

"It was a grievous mistake," returned Bessie sorrowfully. "I don't
believe Edna enjoyed herself one bit."

"No; it was just a freak of temper, and she chose to be self-willed
about it. I hope she will show herself penitent to Sinclair; she can
turn him around her little finger if she likes; but sometimes she
prefers to quarrel with him. I really think Edna enjoys a regular flare
up," finished Richard, laughing. "She says a good quarrel clears the air
like a thunder-storm; but I confess that I don't agree with her."

CHAPTER XV.

"SHE WILL NOT COME."

Bessie did not enter the drawing-room that evening; she felt that her
presence would be decidedly _de trop_ under the circumstances. She made
the pretext of fatigue the reason for retiring to her room early, and
Richard accepted the excuse as though he believed in it.

"Well, I dare say you will be more comfortable," he agreed. "My mother
will be sure to come up and wish you good-night. Confess now, Miss
Lambert, are you not wishing yourself at home this evening?"

"No; of course not," replied Bessie briskly. "Have you not promised me
another ride to-morrow?" But all the same, as she went upstairs, she
thought a talk with her mother and Hatty would have been very soothing.
She was sitting by her window, thinking over things in general, when
there was a tap at her door, and Mrs.