d done
something incalculable for her. She also thought of her as always
with the utmost love and pride and tenderness. She reflected with
pleasure on the gift which she herself had hung on the tree for
Evelyn, and how pleased the child would be. It was a tiny gold brooch
with a pearl in the centre. Evelyn was very fond of ornaments. Maria
did not once imagine of the possibility that Evelyn could have any
dreams herself with regard to Wollaston. She did not in reality think
of Evelyn as old enough to have any dreams at all which need be
considered seriously, and least of all about Wollaston Lee. She
nodded to a young man, younger than herself, who was in Evelyn's
class at the academy, who sat across the aisle, and he returned the
nod eagerly. He was well grown, and handsome, and looked as old as
Maria herself. Presently as the car began to fill up, he crossed the
aisle, and asked if he might sit beside her. Maria made room at once.
She smiled at the young fellow with her smile which belonged in
reality to another man, and he took it for himself. Perhaps nothing
on earth is so misappropriated as smiles and tears. The seat was
quite narrow. It was necessary to sit rather close, in any event, but
presently Maria felt the boy's broad shoulder press unmistakably
against hers. She shrank away with an imperceptible motion. She did
not feel so much angry as amused at the thought that this great boy
should be making love to her, when all her heart was with some one
else, when she could not even give him a pleasant look which belonged
wholly to him. Maria leaned against the window, and gazed out at the
flying shadows. "I am glad it is so pleasant," she said in a
perfectly unconcerned voice.

"Yes, so am I," the boy replied, but his voice shook with emotion.
Maria thought again how ridiculous it was. Then suddenly she
reflected that this might not be on her account but Evelyn's. She
thought that the boy might be trying to ingratiate himself with her
on her sister's account. She felt at once indignation and a sense of
pity. She was sure that Evelyn had never thought of him. She glanced
at the boy's handsome, manly face, which, although manly, wore still
an expression of ingenuousness like a child's. She reflected that if
Evelyn were to marry when she were older, that perhaps this was a
good husband for her. The boy came of one of the best families in
Amity. She turned towards him smiling.

"Evelyn was very much disappointed that