d that she had quite another ten minutes to
spare, and suggested a walk down a favorite path, where they could
gather some delicate maidenhair which she happened to know grew there.

How they walked and talked! Even Rosamund, left behind washing the
tea-things while Lucy dried them, felt her ill-humor vanish.

"Isn't she charming?" she said.

"Yes," said Lucy; but then she added, "I don't want you to like her.
That would be the last straw."

"And why shouldn't I like her?" asked Rosamund.

"Because she belongs to me."

Rosamund was quite silent for a minute. "While Mrs. Brett was here,"
she said slowly, "I was quite happy. Now I do not feel happy, and it is
owing to you, Lucy. Can we not meet and talk this over, and come to a
sort of compact, a sort of armistice? Do you mind if we do?"

Just then Mrs. Brett was seen returning. Lucy stood up hastily. "I will
talk to you. It would be best," she said then.

"To-night," said Rosamund--"to-night, after prayers, let us meet outside
under the elm-trees. We can talk there and put things a bit straight. I
don't think we can go on as we have begun. It would make us both
unhappy."

"My dear girls," called out Mrs. Brett--"ah! I see the tea-things are
all washed up and put away in the basket. Well, they will be quite safe;
there are no gipsies in these parts. Now, who will come with me as far
as the station? Don't all speak at once. I shall be very glad of the
company of those who like to come; but those who don't may stay behind,
and they won't offend me in the very least."

But all the girls wanted to accompany Mrs. Brett; and, surrounded by a
crowd of eager young people, the good lady walked to the railway
station.

CHAPTER IV.

CASTING OF THE DIE.

Rosamund and Jane Denton shared the same bedroom. They had been friends
from childhood, for they had lived in the same street and gone to the
same kindergarten together, and their mothers had been old
school-fellows before marriage, so their friendship had grown up, as it
were, with their very lives.

But Jane was a girl of no very special characteristics; she leant on
Rosamund, admiring her far more vivacious ways and appearance, glad to
be in her society, and somewhat indifferent to every one else in the
wide world.

She sat now on a low and comfortable seat near the open window. Prayers
were over, but the time that Rosamund had fixed for meeting Lucy
Merriman had not quite arrived. She yawned and stretc