you allowed Sir Keith Macleod to ask you
to become his wife, you explained to him our circumstances."

"I don't understand you."

"You told him, of course, that you had a ne'er-do-well brother in
Australia, who might at any moment appear and disgrace the whole
family?"

"I told him nothing of the kind. I had no opportunity of getting into
family affairs. And if I had, what has Tom got to do with Sir Keith
Macleod? I had forgotten his very existence--no wonder, after eight
years of absolute silence."

But Carry, having fired this shot, was off after other ammunition.

"You told him you had sweethearts before?"

"No, I did not," said Miss Gertrude White, warmly, "because it isn't
true."

"What?--Mr. Howson?"

"The orchestra leader in a provincial theatre!"

"Oh yes! but you did not speak so contemptuously of him then. Why, you
made him believe he was another Mendelssohn!"

"You are talking nonsense."

"And Mr. Brook--you no doubt told him that Mr. Brook called on papa, and
asked him to go down to Doctors' Commons and see for himself what money
he would have--"

"And what then? How can I prevent any idiotic boy who chooses to turn
me into a heroine from going and making a fool of himself?"

"Oh, Gertrude White!" said Carry, solemnly. "Will you sit there and tell
me you gave him no encouragement?"

"This is mere folly!" the elder sister said, petulantly; as she rose and
proceeded to put straight a few of the things about the room. "I had
hoped better things of you, Carry. I tell you of an important step I
have taken in my life, and you bring out a lot of tattle and nonsense.
However, I can act for myself. It is true, I had imagined something
different. When I marry, of course, we shall be separated. I had looked
forward to the pleasure of showing you my new home."

"Where is it to be?"

"Wherever my husband wishes it to be," she answered, proudly; but there
was a conscious flush of color in her face as she uttered--for the first
time--that word.

"In the Highlands, I suppose, for he is not rich enough to have two
houses," said Carry; which showed that she had been pondering over this
matter before. "And he has already got his mother and his old-maid
sister, or whatever she is, in the house. You will make a pretty
family!"

This was a cruel thrust. When Macleod had spoken of the far home
overlooking the Northern seas, what could be more beautiful than his
picture of the noble and silver-haired dame,