live-long day. And during the evenings, too. Would she ever forget them?

Yes, Captain Frazier was right-- Hubert Varrick had forgotten her.

She could see that Mrs. Varrick had no love for the girl. Indeed, her
dislike was most pronounced; and she felt that Hubert must have done
considerable coaxing to gain his mother's consent to bring the girl
beneath that roof.

When she learned from the housekeeper that Hubert Varrick was her
guardian, her rage knew no bounds.

It was at this critical state of affairs that Hubert Varrick received a
telegram which called him to New York for a fortnight.

Mrs. Varrick heard this announcement with a little start, while Jessie
Bain heard it with dismay.

To her it meant two long, dreary weeks that must drag slowly by before
he should return again.

No one knew what Miss Duncan thought when she heard the housekeeper
remarking that Mr. Hubert had gone to New York.

Late that afternoon she was startled by a soft little tap at her door,
and in response to her "Come in," Jessie Bain entered.

"I hope I have not interrupted you," said Jessie; "but I thought I would
like to come and sit with you, and watch you while you worked, if you
don't mind."

"Not in the least," answered Miss Duncan.

For a few moments there was a rigid silence between them, which Miss
Duncan longed to break by asking her when and where she first met Hubert
Varrick.

But while she was thinking how she might best broach the subject, Jessie
turned to her and said, "I don't see how you can work with those blue
glasses on; it must be such a strain on your eyes;" adding, earnestly:
"But I suppose you are obliged to do it, and that makes considerable
difference."

"You suppose wrong," returned Miss Duncan, with asperity. "I do it
because it is a pleasure to me."

"Oh!" said Jessie.

"It distracts my mind," continued Miss Duncan. "There are so many sad
things that occur in life, that one would give anything in this world to
be able to forget them."

"Have you had a great sorrow?" asked Jessie.

"So great that it has almost caused me to hate every woman," returned
Miss Duncan; adding: "It was love that caused it all. You will do well,
Miss Bain, if you never fall in love; for, at best, men are
treacherous."

The girl flushed, wondering if the stranger had penetrated her secret.

But she had been so careful to hide from every one that she had fallen
in love with handsome Hubert Varrick, it was almost i