ng to live at our
house."

George whistled.

Lily sobbed quite aloud.

"Hush, poor little girl," said George. He glanced around; there was
not a soul to be seen. Lily's head seemed to droop as naturally
towards his shoulder as a flower towards the sun. A sudden impulse of
tenderness, the tenderness of the strong for the weak, of man for
woman, came over the young fellow. Before he well knew what he was
doing, his arm had passed around Lily's waist, and the pretty head
quite touched his shoulder. George gave one last bitter thought
towards Maria, then he spoke.

"Well," he said, "don't cry, Lily dear. If your mother is going to
marry Dr. Ellridge, suppose you get married too. Suppose you marry
me, and come and live at my house."

Chapter XXV

The next morning, before Maria had started for school, Lily Merrill
came running across the yard, and knocked at the side door. She
always knocked unless she was quite sure that Maria was alone. She
was afraid of her aunt. Aunt Maria opened the door, and Lily shrank a
little before her, in spite of the wonderful glowing radiance which
lit her lovely face that morning.

"Good-morning, Miss Stillman," said Lily, timidly.

"Well?" said Aunt Maria. The word was equivalent to "What do you
want?"

"Has Maria gone?" asked Lily.

"No, she is getting dressed."

"Can I run up to her room and see her a minute? I have something
particular I want to tell her."

"I don't know whether she'd want anybody to come up while she's
dressing or not," said Aunt Maria.

"I don't believe she'd mind me," said Lily, pleadingly. "Would you
mind calling up and asking her, please, Miss Stillman?"

"Well," said Aunt Maria.

She actually closed the door and left Lily standing in the bitter
wind while she spoke to Maria. Lily heard her faintly calling.

"Say, Maria, that Merrill girl is at the door, and wants to know if
she can come a minute. She's got something she wants to tell you."

Then Aunt Maria opened the door. "I suppose you can go up," she said,
ungraciously. The radiance in Lily's face filled her with hostility,
she did not know why.

"Oh, thank you!" cried Lily; and ran into the house and up the stairs
to Maria's room.

Maria was standing before the glass brushing her hair, which was very
long, and bright, and thick. Lily went straight to her and threw her
arms around her and began to weep. Maria pushed her aside gently.

"Why, what is the matter, Lily?" she asked. "Ex