SHAKESPEARE.

Fern looked a little surprised at Erle's speech. "I did not know you
had been poor, too," she returned, drying her eyes, and taking up her
work again.

"Yes, but I was very young, and knew little about it; my poor mother
was the one to suffer. Well, she wanted for nothing when my uncle took
us to Belgrave House; he was very good to her until she died; and,"
with a slight hesitation in his voice, "he is good to me."

"Yes, and you are right to be fond of him," returned Fern, frankly.
"Sometimes I think it is not quite kind of me to speak to you of Percy
and our troubles, because it seems to cast a reflection on one you
love and"--but Erle interrupted her.

"I hope you will never withhold your confidence, Miss Trafford; I
should not feel that you treated me as a friend if you did not allow
me to share some of your troubles. Percy and I are like brothers, and
Percy's mother and sister--" but here he paused and a flush crossed
his face. How could he tell this girl that she should be as a sister
to him, when he knew that even to be alone with her for a few minutes
made his heart beat with strange thrills of happiness? His sister,
never!

Fern felt a little confused at the sudden pause. She wished in a vague
sort of way that he would finish his sentence and tell her what he
meant; the silence was becoming awkward.

Fern worked on desperately, but her cheeks were burning. Both of them
felt relieved when they heard footsteps approaching--Erle especially,
for some dim instinct told him that in another minute he should have
betrayed himself.

Both of them rose simultaneously as the door opened; and at the same
moment Fluff, hugging herself among the sofa cushions, whispered into
the kitten's ear:

"They don't know that I heard every word. One of these days I shall go
and see grandpapa, and ask him why we may not come and live with him
as well as Percy. Erle would like it, I know; he is so fond of Fern."

Erle certainly looked a little amused as his friend entered the room
accompanied by a tall, dark girl, very plainly dressed. But his
expression changed as he noticed Percy's moody looks, and the air of
extreme haughtiness observable in the manner of his companion.

Miss Davenport was evidently very much annoyed; she shook hands with
Erle, without deigning to look at him, and walked straight to the
fire-place.

Fern followed her. "I am so glad you have come home s