not know how far she might
be in the plot, whatever it was. That no living mortal with any shadow
of brains would have trusted Charlotte with a secret, I felt as sure as
I did that my ribbons were white, and not red.

"Emily," I said, "why did not Hatty come with you to-night?"

"I did not ask," was Amelia's languid answer. I do think she gets more
and more limp and unstarched as time goes on.

"Is she better?"

"What is the matter with her?" Amelia's eyes betrayed no artifice.

"A catarrh, I understand."

"Oh, you heard that from Miss Newton. The Newtons asked her for an
assembly, and Mrs Crossland did not want to give up my Lady Milworth,
so she sent word Hatty had a catarrh, I believe. It is all nonsense."

"And it is not telling falsehoods?" said I.

"My dear, I have nothing to do with it," said Amelia, fanning herself.
"Mrs Crossland may carry her own shortcomings."

I felt pretty sure now that Amelia was not in the plot.

"Will you give a message to Hatty?" I said.

"If it be not too long to remember."

"Tell her I wanted her to spend the day, and my Aunt Dorothea writ to
ask her to come, and Mrs Crossland returned answer that she had too bad
a catarrh, and must keep indoors for some days."

"Did she--to Mrs Desborough?" said Amelia, with a surprised look. "I
rather wonder at that, too."

"Emily, help me!" I said. "These Crosslands want to keep Hatty and me
apart. There is something wrong going on. Do help us, if you ever
cared for either of us."

Amelia looked quite astonished and nuzzled.

"Really, I knew nothing about it! Of course I care for you, Cary. But
what can I do?"

"Give that message to Hatty. Bid her, from me, break through the
snares, and come. Then we can see what must be done next."

"I will give her the message," said Amelia, with what was energy for
her. "Cary, I have had nothing to do with it, if something be wrong. I
never even guessed it."

"I don't believe you have," said I. "But tell me one thing, Emily: are
they scheming to make Hatty marry Mr Crossland?"

"Most certainly not!" cried Amelia, with more warmth than I had thought
was in her. "Impossible! Why, Mr Crossland is engaged to Marianne
Newton."

"Is Miss Marianne Newton a friend of yours?"

"Yes, the dearest friend I have."

"Then you will be on my side. Keep your eyes and ears open, and find
out what it is. I tell you, something is wrong. Put yourself in the
breach; help Miss Maria