uquet in her hand trembled.

He went on. "I oughtn't to find it hard to tell you anything. I've
always felt that there was such sympathy between us. As if you
understand me; and I would never fail to understand you."

"I have felt it, too."

Now she lifted her eyes--but to the windows of the drawing-room. From
the nearest, a face was quickly withdrawn--her mother's. She stepped
back, widening the distance between herself and Farvel.

"Susan!" It was Mrs. Milo, calling as if from a distance.

Instantly, Farvel also fell back. And scarcely knowing why she did it,
Sue put the bride's bouquet behind her.

Mrs. Milo came out. Her eyes had a peculiar glitter, but her voice was
gentle enough. "Susan dear, why do you go flying away just when you're
wanted? Why don't you come and help your poor motherkins as you
promised? You don't want me to do everything?"

"No, mother."

"Then please go at once and help Mrs. Balcome with the packing. My
things go into the two small wardrobe trunks. You'll have to use that
big trunk that was your dear father's. Now hurry!"

"Yes, mother." Sue attempted a detour, the bouquet still out of her
mother's sight.

"What are you trying to conceal, dear?"

"It's--it's Hattie's bouquet."

A look of mingled fear and resentment--a look that Sue understood;
next, breathing hard, "What are you doing with it? You don't want it!
Give it to me!" Mrs. Milo caught the flowers from her daughter's hands
and threw them upon the grass. "Now go and do what I've asked you to!"
She pointed.

Sue glanced at Farvel, who was staring at the elder woman in amazed
displeasure. "I'll be back," she said significantly. There was a
trace of yesterday's rebellion in her manner as she went out.

As the drawing-room door closed, Mrs. Milo's manner also underwent a
change. She hastened to Farvel, her eyes brimming with tears, her lips
trembling. "Oh, Mr. Farvel," she cried, "she's all I've got in this
world. She's the very staff of my life! And my heart is set on her
going abroad with me! It'll be an expensive trip, but I'm an old
woman, Mr. Farvel, and I can't take that long journey without Sue! I
know you're against me for what I did yesterday--for what I said to
your wife. But I felt she'd separate me from Sue--that she'd put Sue
against me. And, oh, don't punish me for it! Don't take my daughter
away from me! Oh, don't! Don't!" She caught at his hand, broke down
completely, and s