g
behind Johanna's chair, her eyes fixed on the young man's face with a
curious intentness, she continued: "We walked right to Connewitz and
back without a rest."

"I don't think you should take her so far," said Mrs. Cayhill, looking
up from her book with her kindly smile. "She has never been used to
walking and is easily tired--aren't you, my pet?"

"Yes, and then she can't get up the next morning," said Johanna, mildly
dogmatic, considering the following sentence of her letter.

Gradually it broke upon Maurice that Ephie had been making use of his
name. His consternation at the discovery was such that he changed
colour. The others, however, were both too engrossed to notice it.
Ephie grew scarlet, but continued to rattle on, covering his silence.

"Well, perhaps to-day it was a little too far," she admitted. "But
mummy, I won't have you say I'm not strong. Why, Herr Becker is always
telling me how full my tone is getting. Yes indeed. And look at my
muscle."

She turned back the loose sleeve of her blouse, baring almost the whole
of her rounded arm; then, folding it sharply to her, she invited one
after another to test its firmness.

"Quite a prize-fighter, I declare!" laughed Mrs. Cayhill, at the same
time drawing her little daughter to her, to kiss her. But Johanna
frowned, and told Ephie to put down her sleeve at once; there was
something in the childish action that offended the elder sister, she
did not know why. But Maurice had first to lay two of his fingers on
the soft skin, and then to help her to button the cuff.

When, soon after this, he took his leave, Ephie went out of the room
with him. In the dark passage, she caught at his hand.

"Morry, you mustn't tell tales on me," she whispered; and added
pettishly: "Why ever did you just come to-night?"

He tried to see her face. "What is it all about, Ephie?" he asked.
"Then it WAS you, I saw, in the NONNE--by the weir?"

"Me? In the NONNE!" She was genuinely surprised. "You saw me?"

He nodded. By the light that came from the stairs as she opened the
hall-door, she noticed that he looked troubled, and an impulse rose in
her to throw her arms round his neck and say: "Yes, yes, it was me. Oh,
Morry, I am so happy!" But she remembered the reasons for secrecy that
had been imposed on her, and, at the same time, felt somewhat defiantly
inclined towards Maurice. After all, what business was it of his? Why
should he take her to task for what she chose to d