id not understand.

"Oh, it's frightfully sad," Norma agreed, easily. And because she liked
the mere sound of his name, she added: "Chris is fond of children, too!"
Then, with a sudden change of manner that even unsuspicious Rose thought
odd, she said, gaily: "Isn't Aunt Kate perfectly delicious about the
nurse? I knew she would be. Of course, she does everything, and Miss
Miller simply looks on."

"Well, almost," Rose said, with an affectionate laugh. "She didn't want
a nurse at all, but Harry and Wolf insisted. And then--night before
last--when I was so ill, it almost made me laugh in spite of feeling so
badly, to hear Mother with Miss Miller. 'You'd better get out of here,
my dear,' I heard her say, 'this is no place for a girl like you----'"

Norma's laugh rang out. But Rose noticed that her face sobered
immediately almost into sadness, and that there was a bitter line about
the lovely mouth, and a shadow of something like cynicism in her blue
eyes.

"Norma," she ventured, suddenly storming the fortress, "what is it,
darling? Something's worrying you, Nono. Can't you tell me?"

With the old nursery name Norma's gallant look of amusement and
reassurance faltered. She looked suddenly down at the hand Rose was
holding, and Rose saw the muscles of her throat contract, and that she
was pressing her lips together to keep them from trembling.

A tear fell on the locked hands. Norma kept her eyes averted, shook her
head.

"Is it a man, Nono?"

Norma looked up, dashed away the tears, and managed a rueful smile.

"Isn't it always a man?" she asked, bravely.

Rose still looked at her anxiously, waiting for further light.

"But, dearest, surely he likes you?"

The other girl was silent, rubbing her thumb slowly to and fro across
Rose's thin hand.

"I don't know," she answered, after a pause.

"But of course he does!" Rose said, confidently. "It'll all come right.
There's no reason why it shouldn't!" And with all the interest of their
old days of intimacy she asked eagerly: "Nono, is he handsome?"

"Oh, yes--tremendously."

"And the right age?"

Norma laughed, half protestant.

"Rose, aren't you a little demon for the third degree!" But she liked
it, in spite of the reluctance in her manner, and presently added: "I
don't think age matters, do you?"

"Not in the least," Rose agreed. "Norma, does Mrs. Melrose know?"

"Know what?" Norma parried.

"Know that--well, that you like him?"

Norma raised serio