d the rather
scant measure of satisfaction I had given James More that morning. I
concluded, on the whole, that delay would not hurt anything, yet I could
not delay too long neither; and got to my cold bed with a full heart.

The next day, as James More seemed a little on the complaining hand in
the matter of my chamber, I offered to have in more furniture; and
coming in the afternoon, with porters bringing chairs and tables, found
the girl once more left to herself. She greeted me on my admission
civilly, but withdrew at once to her own room, of which she shut the
door. I made my disposition, and paid and dismissed the men so that she
might hear them go, when I supposed she would at once come forth again
to speak to me. I waited yet a while, then knocked upon her door.

"Catriona!" said I.

The door was opened so quickly, even before I had the word out, that I
thought she must have stood behind it listening. She remained there in
the interval quite still; but she had a look that I cannot put a name
on, as of one in a bitter trouble.

"Are we not to have our walk to-day either?" so I faltered.

"I am thanking you," said she. "I will not be caring much to walk now
that my father is come home."

"But I think he has gone out himself and left you here alone," said I.

"And do you think that was very kindly said?" she asked.

"It was not unkindly meant," I replied.--"What ails you, Catriona? What
have I done to you that you should turn from me like this?"

"I do not turn from you at all," she said, speaking very carefully. "I
will ever be grateful to my friend that was good to me; I will ever be his
friend in all that I am able. But now that my father James More is come
again, there is a difference to be made, and I think there are some things
said and done that would be better to be forgotten. But I will ever be
your friend in all that I am able, and if that is not all that ... if it
is not so much.... Not that you will be caring! But I would not have you
think of me too hard. It was true what you said to me, that I was too
young to be advised, and I am hoping you will remember I was just a child.
I would not like to lose your friendship, at all events."

She began this very pale; but before she was done the blood was in her
face like scarlet, so that not her words only, but her face and the
trembling of her very hands, besought me to be gentle. I saw, for the
first time, how very wrong I had done to place the chi