I couldn't go, Nora. I have been too busy. Besides--there is something
that I must tell you--I wish I could put it off, but I want you to help
me."

The two girls were in their bedroom, and in the darkness and stillness
of the night Janetta put her arms round Nora's neck and told her of her
mother's besetting weakness. She was surprised and almost alarmed at the
effect upon her stepsister. Nora shuddered two or three times and drew
several painful breaths; but she did not cry, and Janetta had expected
an agony of tears. It was in a low, strained voice that the girl said at
last--

"You say you have tried to hide it. Even if you have succeeded, it is
not a thing that can be hidden long. Everybody will soon know. And it
will go on from bad to worse. And--oh, Janetta, she is not your own
mother, but she is mine!"

And then she burst at last into the fit of weeping for which Janetta had
been waiting. But it was more piteous than violent, and she seemed to
listen while Janetta tried to comfort her, and passively endured rather
than returned the elder sister's caresses. Finally the two girls fell
asleep in each other's arms.

The effect upon Nora of this communication was very marked. She looked
pale and miserable for the next few days, and was irritable when her
depression was remarked. For the children's sakes, Janetta tried to make
a few mild festivities possible: she had a tiny Christmas tree in the
back dining-room, and a private entertainment of snapdragon on Christmas
Eve; and on Christmas Day afternoon the younger ones roasted chestnuts
in the kitchen and listened to the tales that nobody could tell half so
well as "dear old Janet." But Mrs. Colwyn openly lamented the
hard-heartedness thus displayed, and locked herself into her bedroom
with (Janetta feared) some private stores of her own; and Nora refused
to join the subdued joviality in the kitchen, and spent the afternoon
over a novel in the front sitting-room. From the state of her eyes and
her handkerchief at tea-time, however, Janetta conjectured that she had
been crying for the greater part of the time.

It was useless to remonstrate with Mrs. Colwyn, but Janetta thought that
something might be done with her daughter. When Nora's depression of
spirits had lasted for some days, Janetta spoke out.

"Nora," she said, "I told you of our trouble, because I thought that you
would help me to bear it; but you are making things worse instead of
better."

"What d