rable, in more ways than one!" and she
looked at me in a meaning fashion which I hated. How more ways than
one, pray? I hope to goodness she is not getting any foolish notions in
her head. She might know me better by this time.

I don't know why it is, but I am always depressed after a letter from
home. Mother reports that there is no improvement in Vere's health, and
that her spirits are variable--sometimes low, sometimes quite bright and
hopeful. Mr Dudley is very good in coming to see her, and his visits
always cheer her up. He asked after me last time, hoped that I was
enjoying myself and would not hurry back. I am not wanted there
apparently, and here they all love having me, and implore me to stay on.
I wasn't sure if I wanted to, but I've decided that I will since that
last letter arrived. I told Mrs Forbes this morning that I would stay
a fortnight longer, and she kissed me and looked quite unreasonably
relieved. I can't see how it matters much to her!

Such a curious thing happened that night, when Wallace and I were
talking about books, and discussing the heroine in a novel which he had
given me to read.

"Did she remind you of anyone?" he asked, and when I said "No," "Why,
she is you to the life! Appearance, manner, character--everything. It
might have been meant for a portrait," he declared. "I was reading it
over last night, and the likeness is extraordinary."

I privately determined to read the book over again on the first
opportunity to discover what I seemed like to other people. The heroine
is supposed to be very pretty and charming, but personally I had thought
her rather silly, so I did not know whether to feel complimented or not.
I determined to introduce the subject to Lorna, and see if she could
throw any light upon it, and she did! More light than I appreciated!

"Oh, I liked Nan very well," she said, "but not nearly so much as
Wallace did. He simply raved about her and declared that if he ever met
a girl like that in real life he should fall desperately in love with
her on the spot. She is his ideal of everything that a girl should be."

"Oh!" I said blankly. For a moment I felt inclined to tell Lorna
everything, but something stopped me, and I am thankful that it did. It
would be so horrid to feel she was watching all the time. For once in
my life I was glad when she went away, and I was left alone to think.

"Desperately in love!" Can Wallace really be that, and with