very well I
didn't do it unkindly. It is you who are unkind! But of course it
doesn't matter. You don't understand. You are only a child!" Her
voice shook.

"I am not a child!" said Nora indignantly. "And I believe I know a great
deal more about money than you do--because you have never been poor. I
have to keep all the accounts here, and make mother and Alice pay their
debts. Father, of course, is always too busy to think of such things.
Your money is dreadfully useful to us. I wish it wasn't. But I wanted to
do what was honest--if you had only given me time. Then you slipped out
and did it!"

Constance stared in bewilderment.

"Are you the mistress in this house?" she said.

Nora nodded. Her colour had all faded away, and her breath was coming
quick. "I practically am," she said stoutly.

"At seventeen?" asked Connie, ironically.

Nora nodded again.

Connie turned away, and walked to the window. She was enraged with Nora,
whose attack upon her seemed quite inexplicable and incredible. Then,
all in a moment, a bitter forlornness overcame her. Nora, standing by
the table, and already pierced with remorse, saw her cousin's large eyes
fill with tears. Connie sat down with her face averted. But
Nora--trembling all over--perceived that she was crying. The next
moment, the newcomer found Nora kneeling beside her, in the depths of
humiliation and repentance.

"I am a beast!--a horrid beast! I always am. Oh, please, please don't
cry!"

"You forget"--said Connie, with difficulty--"how I--how I miss my
mother!"

And she broke into a fit of weeping. Nora, beside herself with
self-disgust, held her cousin embraced, and tried to comfort her. And
presently, after an agitated half-hour, each girl seemed to herself to
have found a friend. Reserve had broken; they had poured out confidences
to each other; and after the thunder and the shower came the rainbow
of peace.

Before Nora departed, she looked respectfully at the beautiful dress of
white satin, draped with black, which Annette had laid out upon the bed
in readiness for the Vice-Chancellor's party.

"It will suit you perfectly!" she said, still eager to make up.
Then--eyeing Constance--

"You know, of course, that you are good-looking?"

"I am not hideous--I know that," said Constance, laughing. "You odd
girl!"

"We have heard often how you were admired in Rome. I wonder--don't be
offended!"--said Nora, bluntly--"have you ever been in love?"

"Never!" The