ng up, she
saw Miss Roxbury, on horseback, and at her side rode Mr Millar. She
was startled, so startled that she quite forgot to return Miss Roxbury's
bow and smile, and had gone a good way down the street before she
noticed that her brother was speaking to her. He was saying something
about the possible admission of young Roxbury into the new firm, apropos
of the encounter of Mr Millar and Amy.

"Harry is very close about his affairs," said Graeme, with a little
vexation. "Mrs Gridley gave us that among other pieces of news,
to-day. I am not sure that I did not deny it, decidedly. It is rather
awkward when all the town knows of our affairs, before we know them
ourselves."

"Awkward, indeed!" said Arthur, laughing. "But then this partnership is
hardly our affair, and Mrs Gridley is not all the town, though she is
not to be lightlified, where the spreading of news is concerned; and she
tells things before they happen, it seems, for this is not settled, yet,
and may never be. It would do well for some things."

But Graeme could not listen to this, or to anything else, just then.
She was wondering whether Rose had seen Charles Millar and Miss Roxbury,
and hoping she had not. And then she considered a moment whether she
might not ask Arthur to say nothing about meeting them; but she could
not do it without making it seem to herself that she was betraying her
sister. And yet, how foolish such a thought was; for Rose had nothing
to betray, she said, a little anxiously, to herself. She repeated it
more firmly, however, when they came to the corner of the street where
Fanny and Rose were waiting for them, and laughing and talking merrily
together. If Rose felt any vexation, she hid it well.

"I will ask Fanny whom they met. No, I will not," said Graeme, to
herself, again. "Why should Rose care. It is only I who have been
foolish. They have known each other so long, it would have happened
long ago, if it had been to happen. It would have been very nice for
some things. And it might have been, if Rose had cared for him. He
cared for her, I am quite sure. Who would not? But she does not care
for him. I hope she does not care for him. Oh! I could not go through
all that again! Oh, my darling, my darling!"

It was growing dark, happily, or her face might have betrayed what
Graeme was thinking. She started a little when her sister said,--

"Graeme, do you think it would be extravagant in me to wish for