ear me," said Miss Ruth, wiping her eyes with the frankest grief,
"you don't say so!"

"Haven't you just heard him say so, sister?" asked Miss Deborah, trying
to conceal an unsteady lip by a show of irritation. "Do pay attention."

"I did, dear Deborah," returned Miss Ruth, "but I cannot bear to believe
it."

"Your believing it, or not, doesn't alter the case unfortunately. Did he
like the syllabub yesterday, Gifford?"

"He couldn't eat it," her nephew answered, "but Willie seemed to enjoy
it."

"Poor child," cried Miss Deborah, full of sympathy, "I'm glad he had
anything to comfort him. But Gifford, do you really feel sure Mr. Denner
cannot recover?"

"Too sure," replied the young man, with a sigh.

"There's no doubt about it,--no doubt whatever?" Miss Ruth inquired
anxiously.

Her nephew looked at her in surprise. "I wish there were."

"Well, then, sister?" said Miss Ruth.

Miss Deborah nodded and sighed. "I--I think so," she answered, and the
two sisters turned to go into the house, importance and grief on both
their faces; but Miss Deborah suddenly recollected something she wished
to say.

"Do you know, Gifford," she said, letting Miss Ruth get a little ahead of
her, "I really think that that young Forsythe is without proper feeling;
and I am surprised at dear Lois, too. I cannot say--I am not at liberty
to say anything more, but at such a time"--

Gifford gave her a quick look. "What do you mean, aunt Deborah?"

But his aunt seemed reluctant to speak, and looked after Miss Ruth, who
was walking slowly up the mossy path, flecked here and there by patches
of sunshine that fell through the flickering leaves above her. When she
was quite out of hearing, Miss Deborah said mysteriously,--

"Well, perhaps; I might tell you; you are not like any one else. Ruth
thinks I cannot keep a secret, but then you know your dear aunt Ruth does
not discriminate. You are quite different from the public."

"Well, and what is it?" he said impatiently, and with a horrible
foreboding.

"Why, it is settled," answered Miss Deborah; "it is all settled between
Lois and young Forsythe. Arabella Forsythe told Adele Dale, and Adele
Dale told me; quite privately, of course. It wasn't to be mentioned to
any one; but it was only natural to speak of it to dear Ruth and to you."

Gifford did not wait to hear more. "I must go," he said hurriedly. "I
must get back to Mr. Denner," and he was off.

"Oh, dear Giff!" cried Miss Debora