as in high
spirits.

"Oh, Mopsy," said she--and this was a pet name she gave her sister Carry
when the latter was in great favor--"did you ever see such a morning in
November? Don't you think papa might take us to Kew Gardens?"

"I want to speak to you, Carry--come here," she said, gravely; and the
younger sister went and stood by the table. "You know you and I are
thrown very much on each other; and we ought to have no secrets from
each other; and we ought to be always quite sure of each other's
sympathy. Now, Carry, you must be patient, you must be kind: if I don't
get sympathy from you, from whom should I get it?"

Carry withdrew a step, and her manner instantly changed. Gertrude White
was a very clever actress; but she had never been able to impose on her
younger sister. This imploring look was all very fine; this appeal for
sympathy was pathetic enough; but both only awakened Carry's suspicions.
In their ordinary talk sisters rarely use such formal words as
"sympathy."

"What do you mean?" said she, sharply.

"There--already!" exclaimed the other, apparently in deep
disappointment. "Just when I most need your kindness and sympathy, you
show yourself most unfeeling--"

"I wish you would tell me what it is all about," Carry said,
impatiently.

The elder sister lowered her eyes, and her fingers began to work with a
paper-knife that was lying there. Perhaps this was only a bit of
stage-business: or perhaps she was really a little apprehensive about
the effect of her announcement.

"Carry," she said, in a low voice, "I have promised to marry Sir Keith
Macleod."

Carry uttered a slight cry of horror and surprise; but this too was only
a bit of stage effect, for she had fully anticipated the disclosure.

"Well, Gertrude White!" said she, apparently when she had recovered her
breath. "Well--I--I--I--never!"

Her language was not as imposing as her gestures; but then nobody had
written the part for her; whereas her very tolerable acting was nature's
own gift.

"Now, Carry, be reasonable--don't be angry: what is the use of being
vexed with what is past recalling? Any other sister would be very glad
at such a time--" These were the hurried and broken sentences with which
the culprit sought to stave off the coming wrath. But, oddly enough,
Miss Carry refrained from denunciations or any other stormy expression
of her anger and scorn. She suddenly assumed a cold and critical air.

"I suppose," said she, "before