terribly. It was
not as though she had other friends to take their places, and their
absence had made quite a blank in her existence.

If her mother could always stay at home and talk to her, if Fluff were
older and more of a companion, she might not have missed them so much;
but somehow her day-dreams were hardly as consoling as usual. They
seemed more shadowy and unreal, and now and then Fern felt a little
dull. Ever since her mother and Crystal had given her those hints
about Erle, the girl had felt some hostile influence threatening her
sweet content. Her thoughts were always straying to that unknown
Evelyn Selby of whom Percy had spoken. Now and then she would question
Erle about her in her innocent way, but he always evaded these
questions.

"Oh, yes, I see her sometimes," he would answer. "What makes you so
much interested in Miss Selby? I have other lady friends, dozens and
dozens of them;" and then Fern would look confused and uncomfortable,
and would change the subject; but all the same this girl was never out
of her thought. She was rich and well-born and beautiful, and Erle was
always meeting her.

Fern tried to hide these thoughts, but Mrs. Trafford often fancied the
bright face was a little clouded. Fern laughed and talked as much as
ever, and worked as busily for them all; but more than once, when she
had returned earlier than usual, she had found Fern with her hands
lying idly in her lap, and a very thoughtful look on her face. Fern
would jump up at once, with a merry laugh at her own idleness; but her
mother did not always forget the look. It was far too dreamy and
abstracted, she said to herself, as she watched her child tenderly.

Crystal was thinking much the same as she entered the room rather
quietly that May evening--so quietly, indeed, that Fern was not
conscious of her presence till she pat her hand on her shoulder with a
light laugh.

"Asleep, or only dreaming with your eyes open, Fern. What is the
matter, little one?"

"Oh, Crystal, how you startled me," exclaimed Fern, turning crimson
under Crystal's sharp scrutiny. "What made you come in so noiselessly?
I never even heard your footsteps. Yes, I was dreaming, I believe,"
pushing back her hair with rather a tired gesture. "Fluff was sleepy
and went to bed, and mother had to help Miss Martingale with the
accounts, and one gets stupid sitting alone."

"I never heard you say that before," rather incredulously; "you are
the brightest gi