shot
a wicked little smile after her.

"You are the dearest darling in the world," she murmured, "and I know
you are resolved not to be guilty of doing anything to offend my proud
sister. You will not 'assume the responsibility,' but I will. Mrs. Belle
just isn't going to have her way, all the same, and I am going to have
mine if I can manage it. I wonder if I could walk into the other room."

She glanced toward the door and seemed to be measuring the distance with
her eye.

"I am going to try it anyway," said this willful little lady, as she
deliberately slipped out of her chair and stood upon her feet.

She found herself still very weak, and for a moment it seemed as if her
trembling limbs would not support her, but the determination to outwit
her haughty sister had taken possession of her, and she was bound to
accomplish her purpose.

She managed to get to a common cane-seat chair, and pushing this before
her as a support, sitting down once or twice to rest, she at length
reached the door leading into the other room.

Wallace Richardson was sitting by a window, his back toward the parlor
where Violet had been ill. He had been reading the morning paper, but it
had dropped upon his knees and he had fallen into a fit of musing, his
thoughts turning, as they did involuntarily, to that fearful ride down
the inclined plane, while he always saw in imagination that wild look of
appeal upon the lovely face of Violet Huntington, as she instinctively
turned to him for help.

Suddenly he was startled by a slight movement near him, and, glancing
up, he beheld the object of his thoughts standing in the door-way just
behind him.

"Miss Huntington!" he cried, starting to his feet in amazement and
consternation, "I am afraid you are very imprudent. Do you want
something? Can I do anything for you?"

"Yes, if you will please help me to that chair I will be much obliged; I
am not quite so strong as I thought I was, and find myself a little
tired," Violet replied, looking very pale after her unusual exertion.

"I should think so, indeed! Here, take this chair," said Wallace as he
gently helped her, with his well hand, to the chair that he had just
vacated.

"Thank you," Violet said, as she sank panting into it; then, glancing up
at him with a roguish smile, she continued: "Don't look so shocked, Mr.
Richardson; I suppose I am a trifle pale, but I am not going to faint,
as I see you fear. I was lonely in there by myself an