e didn't take me," said
Pansy, going away, and leaving Kat to put her letter up and try to look
quite composed before Kittie came.

You must know that this was two years later, and that the twins were
spending a few weeks with the Raymond's, where there were several other
young people. Olive was working hard and rising steadily, and had never
once been heard or suspected of wishing that Roger Congreve would come
home from the continent, where he still roamed and threatened to settle.
She was completely devoted to her art, and was now paying her way by
teaching, while she was being taught. Mrs. Dering and Jean were in
Virginia, and when Olive or the twins came home, it was to Bea's home,
where everything was cosy and happy, with the rising young physician and
his pretty little wife.

Two years had made some changes in the twins, more perceptibly so in Kat
than Kittie; for time and love work wonders, and while she would never
quite reach the perfection of lady-like grace and dignity, that made
Kittie so charmingly attractive, she certainly had quieted much, was
more careful of her language and dress, and bade fair to be a most
delightful little woman after all, and one that Ralph might well love
and be proud of having won.

When Kittie came up stairs, she was very quiet, and in answer to
inquiries, said that her head ached. Kat was relieved to think she would
not have to be on close guard, for she did not feel like telling her
secret just then, and had rather dreaded Kittie's eyes. But Kittie was
wholly absorbed in something else; she put away her things, and sat down
by the window without saying much.

"It's pretty near tea-time," remarked Kat presently. "Are you all
ready?"

"I--don't believe I'll go down," said Kittie. "I'm not hungry."

"Humph!" thought Kat, with a sudden and intense curiosity. "I guess I'm
not the only one that has a secret."

"Did you have a pleasant ride?" she asked, after some silence.

"Yes--very;" answered Kittie absently.

"You were gone long enough."

No answer.

"I had a letter from Ralph;" guardedly.

"Did you?"

"Yes; I expect he'll come before long."

"I'd like to see him;" with more interest. "Wouldn't you?"

"Yes--rather," answered Kat, with a smile at herself in the glass, where
she was comparing the effect of pink, or blue bow in her hair. "I'm
going down now; what shall I say for you?"

"That I've a headache, and not hungry," said Kittie, and Kat whisked
gayly of