;
"might I call or send for her?"

He darted towards the door as he spoke, but Elizabeth stopped him.

"Wait a moment, Tom," she said; "come back here."

"Yes, of course; I'll be back in a flash--I'll just send her these
traps," and he pulled a couple of tempting packages from his pocket,
nattily tied with pink ribbons and got up generally in the exquisite
taste which distinguishes everything from our Frenchman's establishment.

"No," urged Elizabeth, "come here first; I have something to say to you,
Tom--Elsie can eat her bon-bons after."

Tom came back, rather unwillingly though, and stood leaning against the
window like a criminal.

"Sit down," said Elizabeth.

"No, no! I like to stand! Well, what is it, Bessie?"

"Tom," she said, seriously, "I am afraid you have forgotten the
experience which cost you so much pain and drove you off to Europe; I
fear you are making other and deeper trouble for yourself."

"Oh, no, Bessie--it's of no consequence any way," returned Tom, turning
fifty different shades of red at once, "What a pretty green that silk
is."

"It is bright blue, but no matter! So you wont listen to me, Tom?"
continued Elizabeth.

"My dear girl, did I ever refuse to listen in all my life!" cried Tom.
"But you see, you're a little mistaken, Bessie; I'm not such a goney as
I used to be."

"That has nothing to do with the matter."

"Oh, yes, it has; I mean, I don't allow myself to be such a dunce, even
in my own thoughts. I never even think about--about--you know what I
mean."

Tom broke down and made a somewhat lame conclusion.

"Oh, Tom, Tom!" Elizabeth said.

"Well, there!" cried he, with sudden energy; "there is no use in
standing here and telling you fibs! I do love her--I must love her--I
always shall love her--hang me if I shan't!"

He was in a state of great agitation now, and trembled all over as if he
had been addressing Elsie herself.

Elizabeth sighed wearily.

"I thought so," she said; "I feared so."

"You mean the dear girl will never care for me. How could any one expect
her to--I couldn't--'tisn't in reason."

"Then, Tom, she certainly ought not to treat you as she does and lead
you on."

"She doesn't lead me on."

"But her manner does not forbid your attentions, and you are too worthy,
dear cousin, for anything but honest dealing."

"It's my fault--all my fault."

Elizabeth shook her head.

"You have the best heart and the worst head in the world," said she.