en months; how much had happened
since then!

But when the evening was over, she was obliged to confess that it had
somehow disappointed her. Richard had said very little to her. Miss
Shelton had engrossed his conversation; he hardly looked in Bessie's
direction.

When dinner was over, and Edna went to the piano, he placed himself
beside her; but he did not ask Bessie to sing. She sat at her work, and
tried to think that she was enjoying herself, but she felt left out in
the cold; she missed the old friendliness in Richard's manner; she
wondered why he did not ask about her home. Could a few months have
cooled his friendship? When she bade him good-night he hardly looked at
her; he shook hands far more cordially with Miss Shelton.

Bessie felt chilled and depressed, for she was a faithful little soul,
and was true to all her likes and dislikes; fickleness to her friends
was not in her nature; if she liked a person she liked him or her
always.

"It is very strange, very disappointing. I think I would rather he had
not come," she thought; "but perhaps he will be nicer to-morrow;" and
with this vague hope she fell asleep.

The next morning she was out at her usual time, and, as before, the
crisp morning air seemed to dispel all uneasy thoughts; she felt
brighter, more sanguine and cheerful than she had last night. Nature
holds a store of comfort for those who love and seek her--she has all
sorts of balmy messages to give them; a thousand mellow influences steal
upon the jaded consciousness; hope is written legibly in the blue sky,
the clear air, the sunshine; every flower, every leaf is a token of
love; the birds sing, and, in spite of ourselves, our hearts grow
lighter.

"It must have been my fancy," thought Bessie; "I hope I am not growing
self-conscious;" and then she gave a little start of surprise, for
surely she knew that brown tweed coat, and there was Richard coming to
meet her; and it was with his old pleasant smile that he greeted her.

"What a lovely morning, Miss Lambert! I knew you would be out." He had
expected her then. "Miss Shelton is an early riser, too, but she never
walks before breakfast. I wanted to find you alone, and to tell you that
I was at Cliffe the day before yesterday."

"At Cliffe?" And Bessie raised her clear eyes to his with such intense
surprise that Richard laughed a little nervously.

"I had some business there," he began awkwardly, "and I wanted to see
your father. I saw the