ket, and began to sob and cry.

"Father is cruel; why won't he believe me? Why may I not get engaged
like other girls? I am nineteen. I was so happy--and now I'm
miserable!"

"Come here, Lettice, and for pity's sake, child, stop crying, and behave
like a reasonable creature. There are one or two questions I want to
ask you. How long have you known that Arthur Newcome was in love with
you?"

"I don't know. At least, he was always nice. That summer at
Windermere, he always walked with me, and brought me flowers, and--"

"That was three years ago--the summer you came to me. So long as that!
But, Lettice, whatever your feelings may be now, you have certainly not
cared for him up to a very recent period. I don't need to remind you of
the manner in which you have spoken about him. When you saw that lit;
was growing attached to you, did you try to show that you did not
appreciate his attentions?"

Lettice bent her head and grew crimson over cheek and neck.

"I was obliged to be polite! He was always with Madge, and I did
like--"

Miss Carr shut her lips in tight displeasure.

"Yes, my dear, you `liked' his attentions, and you were too vain and
selfish to put an end to them, though you did not care for the man
himself. Oh, Lettice, this is what I have feared! this is what I have
tried to prevent! My poor, foolish child, what trouble you have brought
upon us all! Arthur Newcome will have every reason to consider himself
badly treated; his people will take his part; you will have alienated
your best friends."

"I am not going to treat him badly. You are very unkind. _He_ would
not be unkind to me. I wish he were here, I do! He would not let you
be so cruel." And Lettice went off into a paroxysm of sobbing, while
Miss Carr realised sorrowfully that she had made a false move.

"My dear child, you know very well I don't mean to be cruel. I am too
anxious for your happiness. Lettice, Mr Newcome is very much in love
just now, and is excited and moved out of himself; but though he may not
be less devoted to you, in the course of time he will naturally fall
back into his old quiet ways. When you think of a life with him, you
must not imagine him as he was yesterday, but as you have seen him at
home any time during the last three years. You have mimicked him to me
many times over, my dear. Can you now feel content to spend your life
in his company?"

It was of no use. Lettice would do nothing but so