anyone
in the world, and I know that I am of more interest to you than to
anyone else. Let us talk about ourselves."

"Certainly we shall talk about ourselves," said Ella. "To begin,
I should like very much to know if you were aware that Herbert had
returned to this house after his day or two in town."

Phyllis undoubtedly colored before she said, with a laugh:

"Didn't you promise to talk solely about ourselves? I decline to talk on
any other topic."

She arose from where she had been sitting before a cup of tea at a
little table that also held cake, and threw herself back in a fanciful
seat shaped like a shell.

"That being so, I should like very much to know how you learned that he
meant to return," pursued Ella.

"You are becoming quite horrid, and I expected you to be so nice," said
Phyllis, pouting very prettily.

"And I expected you to confide in me," said Ella reproachfully. "I have
been watching you for some time--not merely during the past week, but
long before; and I have seen--what I have seen. He could not have told
you that he meant to return--you must have crossed each other in the
trains. How did you know, my dear girl? Let me coax it out of you."

Phyllis made no answer for some time; she was examining, with a newly
acquired, but very intense interest, the texture of the sheen of the
blouse which she was wearing. At last she raised her eyes, and saw how
Ella was looking at her. Then she said slowly:

"I saw him in the train that was leaving when our train arrived."

"Heavens! that is a confession!" cried Ella quite merrily.

"You forced it from me," said Phyllis. "But why should there be any
mystery between us? I'm sure I may tell you all the secrets of my life.
Such as they are, you know them already."

"They are safe in my keeping. My dear Phyllis, don't you know that it
has always been my dearest hope to see you and Herbert Courtland--well,
interested in each other? I saw that he was interested in you long ago;
but I wasn't sure of you. That is just why I was so anxious for you to
come down here for the week we have just passed. I wanted to bring you
both together. I wanted to see you in love with each other; I wanted to
see you both married."

"Ella--Ella!"

"I wanted it, I tell you, not because I loved you, though you know that
I love you better than anyone in the world."

"Dearest Ella!"

"Not because I knew that you and he would be happy, but because I wished
to snatch my ow