nd sisters were at times, when as now the grey eyes were misty with
tears, and the lips all sweet and tremulous.

"If I'd known--if I'd had the slightest idea he was ill, I would rather
have killed myself than have behaved as I did! Oh, don't pretend you
didn't notice! I was hateful to you when you were ill, too, poor
creature, and my sister's guest. I told Geoff all about it. I hate
telling him when I do wrong, so I did it just as a penance, and he was
so vexed with me. Do you know why I spoke as I did? Did you guess the
reason?"

Sylvia shrank into herself with an uneasy foreboding, for Esmeralda was
an impetuous creature, who might be expected to be as undisguised in her
penitence as in offence.

"Oh, please don't say anything more about it!" she cried hurriedly. "It
was very trying for you finding me there when you came over for a visit.
I have forgotten all about it, if there is anything to forget; and now
there's this lovely miniature. How can I thank you?"

"Oh, that is nothing--that's nothing!" cried Esmeralda, waving aside the
subject, and insisting upon a full confession of her fault. "I was
jealous of you--that is what it was--jealous because they all seemed so
fond of you, and I wanted their attention for myself. It was horribly
mean, because I have Geoff and the boy, and it is only natural that they
should want their own interests.

"I daresay Pixie has told you how father spoiled me all my life, and
Bridgie gave way to me until it seemed natural to think first of myself.
But I don't now. I think of Geoffrey and the boy, and I'm trying to be
better for their sake. Geoff says he got me only just in time. He is
rather stern with me sometimes, do you know. He doesn't say much--
perhaps I don't give him the chance--but his face sets, and his eyes are
so large and grave. I can't bear it when he looks at me like that,
because, as a rule, you know,"--she gave a soft, happy little laugh--"he
loves me so frightfully much, and we are so happy together. I ought to
want every girl to be as happy as I am, and I do--really I do.

"In a month or two, when we are home at Knock, will you come and stay
with me, Sylvia, and learn to be fond of me too? I'm rather lonely over
there now that all the others have left, and I have not many girl-
friends. The one I cared for most will be engaged soon, I think, and
the man lives abroad, so she may be leaving the neighbourhood. It is
not settled yet, but I thi