ce. She was nodding.

"They will hear nothing," said Lady Mary, softly. "Tell me, Sarah,
what you mean. I would ask you," she said, with a little smile and
flush, "to tell me something else, only, I--too--am afraid of being
indiscreet."

"There is nothing I would not tell you," murmured Sarah, "though I
believe I would rather tell you--out in the dark--than here," she
laughed nervously.

"The drawing-room is not lighted, except by the moon," said Lady Mary,
also a little excited by the thought of what Sarah might, perhaps, be
going to say; "but there is no fire there, I am afraid. The aunts do
not like sitting there in the evening. But if you would not be too
cold, in that thin, white gown--?"

"I am never cold," said Sarah; "I take too much exercise, I suppose,
to feel the cold."

"Then come," said Lady Mary.

They stole past the sleeping sisters into the drawing-room, and closed
the communicating door as noiselessly as possible.

Here only the moonlight reigned, pouring in through the uncurtained
windows and rendering the gay, rose-coloured room, with its pretty
contents, perfectly weird and unfamiliar.

Sarah flung her warm, young arms about her earliest and most beloved
friend, and rested her bright head against the gentle bosom.

"You never thought I meant all the horrid, cruel things I made Peter
say to you? You never believed it of me, did you? That I wouldn't
marry him unless _you_ went away. You whom I love best in the world,
and always have," she said defiantly, "or that I would ever alter a
single corner of this dear old house, which used to be so hideous, and
which you have made so beautiful?"

"Sarah! My--my darling!" said Lady Mary, in frightened, trembling
tones.

"You needn't blame Peter for saying any of it," said Sarah, "for it
was I who put the words into his mouth. It made him miserable to
say them; but he could not help himself. He wasn't really quite
responsible for his actions. He isn't now. When people are--are in
love, I've often noticed they're not responsible."

"But why--"

"I only wanted to show him what a goose he really was," murmured
Sarah, hanging her head. "He came back so pompous and superior;
talking about his father's place, and being the only man in the house,
and obliged to look after you all; and it was all so ridiculous, and
so out of date. I didn't mean to hurt _you_ except just for a moment,
because it could not be helped," said Sarah. She hid her face in Lady