"You will be as bright and as happy as ever in a few weeks," said she;
"you will soon cease to care for a person whom you no longer respect."

Kitty disclaimed the possibility of ever being happy again; but Gertrude
was more hopeful. She saw that Kitty's outburst of sobs and tears was
like an impetuous grief, but that the deepest recesses of her nature
were safe. She felt a deep compassion for her, and many fears lest she
would want sufficient strength of mind to behave with dignity and
womanly pride in her future intercourse with Mr. Bruce.

Fortunately, the trial was spared her by Mr. Bruce's absenting himself
from the house, and in a few days leaving home for the remainder of the
summer; and, as this circumstance involved his own and Mrs. Graham's
family in wonder as to the cause of his sudden departure, Kitty's trials
were in the perpetual questionings from her aunt and cousin as to her
share in this occurrence. Had she quarrelled with him?--and why? Kitty
denied that she had; but she was not believed.

Mrs. Graham and Isabel were aware that Kitty's refusing at the last
moment to attend the wedding _levee_ was owing to her having learned,
just before the carriage drove to the door, that Mr. Bruce was not to be
one of the party; and, as they got her to confess that he had passed a
part of the evening at the house, they came to the conclusion that some
misunderstanding had arisen between the lovers.

Isabel was too well acquainted with Kitty's sentiments to believe she
had voluntarily relinquished an admirer who had evidently been highly
prized; and she also saw that the sensitive girl winced under every
allusion to the deserter. Where was her affection? For she made Mr.
Bruce and his disappearance her constant topic; and, on the slightest
difference between herself and Kitty, she distressed the latter by
cutting sarcasm relative to her late love-affair. Kitty would then seek
refuge with Gertrude, and claim her sympathy; and she not only found in
her a friendly listener to her woes, but invariably acquired in her
society greater strength and cheerfulness than she could elsewhere rally
to her aid.

Many a time, when Isabel had been tantalising Kitty beyond what her
patience could endure, a little figure would present itself at the door
of Miss Graham's room, and with the sweetest of voices say, "I hear you,
Kitty; come in, my dear; we shall be glad of your pleasant company;" and
seated by the side of Gertrude, le