.

"I wish it were not wrong to hate him," she exclaimed passionately; "it
would be such a relief; but if he is only kind to Katy, I do not care
how much he despises us," and bathing her face in water Helen sat down
by her window, gazing out upon the fresh green earth, where the young
grass was springing, wondering if Mr. Cameron took her sister, when it
would probably be. "Not this year or more," she said, "for Katy is so
young;" but on this point she was soon set right by Katy herself, who,
leaving her lover alone with her mother, stole up to tell her sister the
good news.

"Yes, I know; I guessed as much when you came back from the meadows,"
and Helen's voice was very unsteady in its tone as she smoothed back the
soft rings clustering around her sister's brow.

"Crying. Helen! oh, don't. I shall love you just the same, and you are
coming to live with us in the new house on Madison Square," Katy said,
forgetting Wilford's instructions in her desire to comfort Helen, who
broke down again, while Katy's tears were mingled with her own.

It was the first time Katy had thought what it would be to leave forever
the good, patient sister, who had been so true, so kind, treating her
like a petted kitten and standing between her and every hardship.

"Don't cry, Nellie," she said, twining her arms around her neck; "New
York is not far away, and I shall come so often--that is, after we
return from Europe. Did I tell you we are going there first, and Wilford
will not wait, but says we must be married the tenth of June; that's his
birthday--thirty--and he is telling mother now."

"So soon--oh, Katy! and you so young!" was all Helen could say, as with
quivering lip she kissed her sister's hand raised to wipe her tears
away.

"Yes, it is soon, and I am young; but Wilford is in such a hurry; he
don't care," Katy replied, trying to comfort Helen, and begging of her
not to cry so hard.

No, Wilford did not care, as it would seem, how much he wrung the hearts
of Katy's family by taking her from them at once, and by dictating to a
certain extent the way in which he would take her. There must be no
invited guests, he said; no lookers-on, except such as chose to go to
the church where the ceremony would, of course, be performed, and from
which place he should go directly to the Boston train. It was his wish,
too, that the matter should be kept as quiet as possible, and not be
generally discussed in the neighborhood, as he disliked