the least provocation, made a hopeless labyrinth
of her embroidery silks, gave her a kiss of greeting, and hurried on
with numberless questions, just as if he were in the greatest possible
haste, and it was a necessity of life and death that he should throw off
everything that happened to be on his mind before he dashed away.

"And you are not tired of seeing me, Bessie, you are sure of that?" he
repeated.

"You are a silly fellow to ask such questions," she replied; "you know
how glad I am to have you come."

"You're a darling old girl," cried Tom, "and there's no more to be said
about it."

"Then, if you have finished, please pick up my unfortunate table. See
what a state these poor silks are in."

"I'm always in mischief," said Tom, contritely, restoring the table to
its equilibrium with great difficulty; "I'm more out of place in a
lady's parlor than an owl in a canary bird's cage."

"Your mistakes are better than other men's elegancies," said Elizabeth,
heartily.

It rested her to be in Tom's society; with him she was not forced
constantly to play a part, and he had been a great resource to her ever
since his return.

Many times she said to herself:

"He would love me, whatever came--I can always depend on him."

She was thinking something of the kind, just then, while she began
assorting her silks; and Tom stood meekly by, longing to repair the
mischief he had occasioned, but perfectly certain that he should only do
a good deal more harm if he attempted it.

Besides that, something else was in his mind--there always was before he
had been five minutes in the house if Elsie did not make her appearance.

He shuffled about, answered Elizabeth's questions haltingly, and at last
burst out:

"Where is the little fairy--has she gone out, too?"

"Elsie, do you mean?"

"Who else, of course? Where is she?"

"Up in her room, I fancy," replied Elizabeth.

"I don't see how you can bear her out of your sight for an instant,"
cried Tom; "I'm sure I couldn't if I lived in the house with her."

"Nonsense, Tom!"

"There is no nonsense about it; it's just the truth."

Several times Elizabeth had attempted to point out to him the folly of
going on in his old insane fashion, but either he would not listen or
something interrupted their conversation. Now she determined to take
advantage of the present opportunity and speak seriously with him.

"I have brought her a paper of Maillard's sweet things," said Tom