ething very like it. A girl does not pop over like that
for Dick, Tom, or Harry. You must forgive an old woman like me for
speaking out plain, but she is an odd girl is Jess, just like ten women
rolled into one so far as her mind goes, and if you don't take care you
will get into trouble, which will be rather awkward, as you are going
to marry her sister. Jess isn't the one to have a bit of a flirt to pass
away the time and have done with it, I can tell you;" and she shook her
head solemnly, as though she suspected him of trifling with his future
sister-in-law's young affections, then, without waiting for an answer,
she turned and went into the cottage.

As for John, he only groaned. What could he do but groan? The thing was
self-evident, and if ever a man felt ashamed of himself that man was
John Niel. He was a strictly honourable individual, and it cut him to
the heart to think that he had entered on a course which, considering
his engagement to Bessie, was not honourable. When a few minutes before
he had told Jess he loved her he had said a disgraceful thing, however
true it might be. And that was the worst of it; it was true; he did love
her. He felt the change come sweeping over him like a wave as she
stood looking at him in the room, utterly drowning and overpowering his
affection for Bessie, to whom he was bound by every tie of honour. It
was a new and a wonderful experience this passion that had arisen within
him, as a strong man armed, driving every other affection away into the
waste places of his mind; and, unfortunately, as he already guessed, it
was overmastering and enduring. He cursed himself in his shame and anger
as he sat recovering his equilibrium on the broken chair and tying a
handkerchief tightly round his wounded leg. What a fool he had been! Why
had he not waited to see which of the two he really loved? Why had
Jess gone away like that and thrown him into temptation with her pretty
sister? He was sure now that she had cared for him all along. Well,
there it was, and a bad business too! One thing he was clear about; it
should go no farther. He would not break his engagement to Bessie; it
was not to be thought of. But, all the same, he felt sorry for himself,
and sorry for Jess too.

Just then, however, the bandage on his leg slipped, and the wound
began to bleed so fast that he was fain to hobble into the house for
assistance.

Jess, who had apparently quite recovered from her agitation, was
st