No," said Elsie judiciously, "I suppose not. Not for love, at least.
Perhaps, by and by, after years and years, when you are middle-aged, you
may make a marriage _de convenance_, to some old man who could give you
a comfortable home. People often do that in books, I notice, when they
have had an unfortunate affair in youth. And look at Mrs Bailey! Her
lover was killed in the Crimea, and when she was fifty-two she married
that nasty old man with the snuff on his beard, and--"

But the rest of the sentence was spoken to the air, for Lilias had fled.
The prospect of the old man with snuff on his beard was too much for
her composure, and she rushed into the garden, to see if there, at
least, she might find the much-desired solitude.

No, not yet! for the summer-house towards which she sped had already
been occupied by the three schoolgirls, and there they sat staring at
her with big solemn eyes, as if, forsooth, a girl who had broken off her
engagement was a new and extraordinary freak of humanity.

Good-natured Agatha made room for the new-comer by her side, and glanced
sympathetically at the tear-stained face, but, as usual, her remarks
were not the most tactful in the world.

"Was it really your doing, Lilias?" she inquired, "or was Ned tired of
you too? Kitty says he was, and feels sure he will not mind much."

That opened Lilias's eyes with a flash of anger, but Kitty had the
courage of her opinions, and said stolidly--

"I never considered from the beginning that he was really in love. I've
seen lots of engaged people, and he wasn't a bit like them. He used to
ask us to go about with you, and be quite disappointed if we wouldn't,
and most couples like to be alone, and make faces at one another when
they think you are not looking, to say they wish you would run away.
I've had experience, for last summer we stayed two months in a
hydropathic."

"Perhaps he really did care for you at first, but was disappointed when
he got to know you better!" This from Christabel; while Agatha chimed
in with an eager--

"But you are glad, dear, aren't you, to think he is not heart-broken?
It makes it easier for you when he doesn't care!"

Plainly there was no comfort forthcoming for Miss Lilias from the
members of her own family!

Meanwhile Jim was seeing his friend off at the railway station, and
administering such sympathy as was deserved for Ned's business reverses,
while eclipsing his sisters in candour on the sub