ght enough of
poor papa and mamma, and how hard it's been for them in many ways,
though I did say to Bessie the other day that, whatever troubles they'd
had, they'd not been parted from each other the way we've been.'

'I'm glad you said that,' Jacinth condescended to say, 'just to let them
see that they're not the only people in the world who have to bear
things.'

'Oh, they _don't_ think that,' said Frances. 'And Jass,' she went on,
encouraged by her sister's softer tone, and encircling her neck fondly
with her two arms as she sat, half on Jacinth's knee, half on the edge
of her chair, 'I don't quite see why being sorry for the poor Harpers,
and--and--wishing we could make Lady Myrtle feel so too, need make her
leave off being kind to us too. That's how mamma sees it. I am not only
thinking of the Harpers, Jass; indeed, I'm not. I'm looking forward more
than I can tell you to what you said--that when papa and mamma come
home, Lady Myrtle is going to invite us all to stay with her. Oh, it
would be lovely!' and the little girl clasped her hands together. 'All
the same,' she went on, 'I don't think I want ever to go to Robin
Redbreast till that time comes. I can't feel natural there, and I'm
afraid of vexing you or doing harm somehow.'

'It is not in our hands--not in mine, any way,' said Jacinth quietly.
'All you have told me makes no difference to me. I am not going to
meddle, and I shall not mention the Harpers at all, if I can help it.'

'Not even in the way mamma says we might?' said Frances.

'No--not at all, if I can help it. I do not want to spoil the happiness
of being with Lady Myrtle by bringing up disagreeable subjects. I shall
tell mamma so when I write.'

Frances was silent. After all, she reflected, perhaps it did not much
matter. Jacinth did not know Bessie and Margaret as _she_ did, and now
that her sister understood the whole--the near relationship and the
whole story, perhaps it _would_ be very difficult for her to come upon
the subject naturally.

'Honor Falmouth says,' remarked Jacinth in a moment or two, 'that she
has heard that perhaps the girls are not coming back to school after the
Christmas holidays.'

'Oh,' exclaimed Frances, looking greatly troubled, 'oh, Jass, I do hope
it's not true.'

'I should not be very sorry,' said Jacinth, 'except,' she added with
some effort, 'except for your sake. And of course I have never said that
they were not very nice girls. I know they are, only--i