ings were still
rather melancholy; for she was too tired and depressed for speech, and
just sat in silence, leaning her head against Candace's shoulder until
bedtime. Nor did Georgie and Candace find much to say to each other
after she had departed. Georgie remarked, rather peevishly, that Marian
was a most cross, tiresome child sometimes, and Candace said, "Yes, poor
little thing! but she was really very tired this time, as well as
cross;" then each took a book and read to herself till ten o'clock, when
they separated with a brief good-night. It was a great contrast to the
usual bright, cheerful evenings of the household; and Cannie, as she
undressed, was conscious of being low-spirited. "Homesick" she would
have called it; but the phrase did not justly express her mood, for even
on that dull evening I am very sure that she did not pine for Aunt Myra,
or for the North Tolland farm-house, which was the only place she had
ever called by the name of home.

The next day opened more brightly. Marian was asked to lunch with the
Frewens, who were her favorite friends; and her absence was something of
a relief to the others. Georgie and Candace did their little morning
tasks, not forgetting the arrangement of the fresh flowers, which
usually fell to Gertrude's share; then Georgie sat down to practise, and
Candace settled herself in a deep cushioned chair in the library with
Motley's "Dutch Republic," which she was reading for the first time. It
was the chapter on the siege of Leyden; and the wild, fantastic nocturne
by Chopin which Georgie was playing, seemed to blend and mix itself with
the tragic narrative. Candace did not know how long the reading and the
music had been going on, each complementing the other. She was so
absorbed in her book as not to heed the sound of the bell or Frederic's
noiseless tread as he crossed the hall to answer it; but she roused from
her absorption as the nocturne came suddenly to an end with a crash of
startled chords, and Georgie's hands fell from the keys, at the sight of
Berry Joy, who came hurriedly in at the door. Candace in her corner was
invisible.

"Oh, Georgie, that dreadful creature is here again," she heard Berry
say, while Georgie answered with a little despairing cry, "Not really!
oh, Berry, what shall we do?" Then came a long whispered confabulation;
then another tinkle at the door-bell.

"Frederic, I am engaged," Georgie called out.--"Come upstairs, Berry. If
we stay here, som