far end
of the dim little cellar. "I don't want to ever go to a picnic again,
as long as I live," she said quietly.

"Ellen!" cried Christina in dismay, "what is it? Have you and
Bruce--what's the matter? Did you quarrel?"

"No, it would be better if we had." Ellen seemed to be relieved at the
possibility of unburdening her heart. "He's just got tired of
me--that's all."

She said it with a quiet bitterness that was far more sorrowful than a
rush of tears. Christina felt her anger rise with her grief.

"Why, I never heard of anything so abominable--" she commenced
stormily, but her sister stopped her.

"No, I won't listen to anything against him. Bruce is just as good--"
she stopped overcome for a moment. "It isn't his fault," she went on,
regaining her self-control. "He feels awful about it. He didn't want
to tell me, but I made him, last night. I knew there was something,
ever since last Christmas. And it's been getting worse all summer and
I couldn't stand it any longer. He's changed since he went away. And
he,--I've never been anywhere outside of Orchard Glen, and he's seen
the difference. He's gone ahead of me, that's all and he couldn't help
it."

She finished in a whisper, and stood looking before her in a kind of
dazed despair. "I don't know,"--she faltered,--"I don't seem to know
how to start over again," she said with an air of bewilderment.

"Oh, Ellen!" cried Christina in a sudden rush of tenderness and pity
that had to have an outlet, "wouldn't you like to go away for a while,
till--right now, and do something and--and catch up?"

A light flashed up for a moment in Ellen's eyes, but faded immediately.
"How could I?" she cried, "and leave them here alone--I might as well
think of going to the moon."

"But you can. Yes, you must, right away. Allister would just as soon
have you go out there as me. He said so, but he didn't think you
would, and you'll go and I'll stay at home. It will only be for a
little while, and you can see everything, and it'll just be grand!--"
her eyes were shining, her cheeks pink with excitement.

"Christine!" Ellen looked at the little sister, her eyes filled with
unspeakable gratitude. "Oh, it wouldn't be right to let you--but if I
only could--just for a little while, till he goes away, I might stand--"

She sank down upon a little low bench and buried her face in her apron.
"It seems too good to be true," she sobbed.

Christina had a sudden vivi