all our friends;
indeed, every one makes much of her. If you can spare her a
little longer, I shall be truly grateful, my dear Miss Lambert,
for my poor child's sake."

And then followed a few kindly expressions of goodwill and sympathy.

Bessie was rather surprised to receive a letter from Christine the
following morning, with a little penciled note from Hatty inside.

"Father was too busy to write," Christine said. "He had a very anxious
case on hand, but he hoped Hatty was rather better that day, and he
thought they could do without Bessie a little longer, as her friends
seemed to need her so much. He was sorry to hear Miss Sefton had broken
off her engagement; it was a very serious thing for any young lady to
do, and he hoped none of his girls would act so dishonorably to any
man."

Hatty's note was short and much underlined.

"DARLING BESSIE: You are not to come home on my account. Chrissy
is very nice, and does everything for me, and I won't have your
pleasure spoiled, and Miss Sefton's too, poor thing, just
because I was stupid enough to faint. It is only the hot
weather--oh, it is so hot and glaring here! Chrissy and I cannot
imagine how you can ride and play tennis in such heat; but
perhaps it is cooler in the country. Now, remember, I mean what
I say, and that I don't want you one bit. At least that is a fib
in one way, because I always want my Betty; but I am quite happy
to think you are enjoying yourself, and cheering up that poor
girl--she must be very miserable. Write to me soon again. I do
love your letters. I always keep them under my pillow and read
them in the morning. Good-bye, darling; you are my own Betty,
you know.

"Your loving little
"HATTY."

"I suppose I must stop a week or ten days longer," thought Bessie,
laying down her letters with rather a dissatisfied feeling. "I wish
father could have written, himself, but I dare say he will in a day or
two. I will try not to fidget. I will wait a little, and then write to
mother and tell her how I feel about things. When she understands how
difficult it is for me to get away without giving offense, she will be
sure to help me, and six weeks are enough to satisfy Mrs. Sefton."

Bessie spoke of her letters at luncheon-time. Edna heard her with
languid attention, but Mrs. Sefton was triumphant.

"I knew they could spare you, Bessie," she said, with a look o