little on what they say," said
Rose, knotting up her hair. "And I don't suppose Mr Perry will hear
it."

"I have commenced wrong," said Graeme to herself. "But I must just say
a word to her, now I have began. It was of ourselves I was thinking,
Rose--of you, rather. And it is not nice to be talked, about. Rosie,
tell me just how much you care about Mr Perry."

"Tell me just how much _you_ care about him, dear," said Rose.

"I care quite enough for him, to hope that he will not be annoyed or
made unhappy. Do you really care for him, Rosie?"

"Do you, Graeme?"

"Rose, I am quite in earnest. I see--I am afraid the good foolish man
wants you to care for him, and if you don't--"

"Well, dear--if I don't?"

"If you don't, you must not act so that he may fancy you do, Rose. I
think there is some danger in his caring for you."

"He cares quite as much for you as he cares for me, Graeme, and with
better reason."

"Dear, I have not thought about his caring for either of us till lately.
Indeed, I never let the thought trouble me till last night, after Mr
Millar came, and again, to-night. Rosie, you must not be angry with
what I say."

"Of course not. But I think you must dispose of Mr Perry, before you
bring another name into your accusation; Graeme, dear, I don't care a
pin for Mr Perry, nor he for me, if that will please you. But you are
not half so clever at this sort of thing as Harry. You should have
began at once by accusing me of claiming admiration, and flirting, and
all that. It is best to come to the point at once."

"You said you would not be angry, Rose."

"Did I? Well, I am not so sore about it as I was a minute ago. And
what is the use of vexing one another. Don't say any more to-night."

Indeed, what could be said to Rose in that mood. So Graeme shut her
lips, too.

In the mean time Mr Snow had opened his, in the privacy of their
chamber.

"It begins to look a little like it, don't it?" said he.

He got no answer.

"I'd a little rather it had been Graeme, but Rosie would be a sight
better than neither of them."

"I'm by no means sure of that," said Mrs Snow, sharply. "Rosie's no' a
good bairn just now, and I'm no' weel pleased with her."

"Don't be hard on Rosie," said Mr Snow, gently.

"Hard on her! You ought to have more sense by this time. Rosie's no'
thinking about the minister, and he hasna been thinking o' her till
lately--only men are such fools. Forgive me for