easant, untidy room.

"Do you think she feels badly about the love-affair?"

"She says that isn't it," replied Henry, gloomily, "but she goes
about with a face like grim death, and I don't know what to make of
it."

"She'll tell finally."

"I don't know whether she will or not."

"Women always do."

"I don't know whether she will or not."

"She will."

Henry remained with Meeks until quite late. Sylvia sewed and sewed by
her sitting-room lamp. Her face never relaxed. She could hear the hum
of voices across the hall.

After awhile the door of the parlor was flung violently open, and she
heard Horace's rushing step upon the stair. Then Rose came in, all
pale and tearful.

"I have told him I couldn't marry him, Aunt Sylvia," she said.

Sylvia looked at her. "Why not?" she asked, harshly.

"I can't marry him and have you feel so dreadfully about it."

"Who said I felt dreadfully about it?"

"Nobody said so; but you look so dreadfully."

"I can't help my looks. They have nothing whatever to do with your
love-affairs."

"You say that just to pacify me, I know," said Rose, pitifully.

"You don't know. Do you mean to say that you have dismissed him?"

"Yes, and he is horribly angry with me," moaned Rose.

"I should think he would be. What right have you to dismiss a man to
please another woman, who is hardly any relation to you? I should
think he would be mad. What did he do?"

"He just slammed the door and ran."

Sylvia laid her work on the table and started out of the room with an
angry stride.

"Where are you going?" asked Rose, feebly, but she got no reply.

Soon Sylvia re-entered the room, and she had Horace by the arm. He
looked stern and bewildered. Sylvia gave him a push towards Rose.

"Now look at here, both of you," she said. "Once for all, I have got
nothing to say against your getting married. I am worrying about
something, and it is nobody's business what it is. I am doing right.
I am doing what I know is right, and I ain't going to let myself be
persuaded I ain't. I have done all I could for Rose, and I am going
to do more. I have nothing against your getting married. Now I am
going into the parlor to finish this work. The lamp in there is
better. You can settle it betwixt you."

Sylvia went out, a long line of fine lace trailing in her wake.
Horace stood still where she had left him. Rose looked at him timidly.

"I didn't know she felt so," she ventured, at last, in a small voice