rmed truce."

Bettina felt better, but needing further assurance, she ventured, "I
suppose he has a sort of brotherly feeling for her."

It was Sophie who answered that question.

"No, he hasn't. Justin adores the memory of his own little sister. She
was a dear child and lame. And she was about as like Sara, I imagine,
as a white dove is like a peacock. Justin has often told me that when he
marries he wants to find a woman to whom he can tell his dreams as he
told them to his little sister--it is perhaps because he has failed to
find such a woman that he is unmarried."

It seemed to Bettina, suddenly, that all the stars sang! "Oh, it's such
a lovely world"--she was all aglow--"and you've made it lovely for me,
Diana, by having me here, and doing wonderful things for me."

"I want you to stay for a long time, dear, until you are married. But
you'll forgive me if I go away and leave you alone with Sophie for a
while?"

"Oh, must you go away again?"

"Yes. I'm not well. This air doesn't agree with--my throat," Diana
stammered, not caring to meet the clear eyes.

"Oh, but I'm afraid that I'm terribly in the way," Bettina said
distressfully. "You'll want Mrs. Martens to go with you. You mustn't
have her stay on my account. I can go back to my rooms with Miss
Matthews. Really I can--I shouldn't mind."

"My dear, I should mind very much." Diana reached out her hand to her.
"Don't make me unhappy by taking it that way--I want you here."

"But you've done enough for me, putting yourself out in this way----"

"I have done only the things that I wanted to do. And now don't make me
unhappy by suggesting that you won't keep poor Sophie company. What
would she do without you?"

Bettina looked from one to the other. "Are you very sure you shouldn't
go away together, if it weren't for me?"

"Very sure--I should bore her terribly."

They all laughed, and Bettina said, "Of course I know you're doing it
all for my sake----"

"And for Anthony," said Diana, softly; "for the sake of my old friend
Anthony."

"How wonderful your friendship is," said Bettina, softly. "It makes me
believe in all friendship, Diana."

A little later she slid down from the bed. "You're tired and I'm keeping
you up. I'll run along."

But Diana held her for a moment.

"Anthony will soon want to be going into the big house--when will you be
ready, Bettina?"

"Oh, not yet," said Bettina, breathlessly, "not yet. I'd rather wait.
Don't you thin