eel like an
ordinary girl now in many ways, except that I could never give you up,
Agnes."

"And I couldn't give you up, Irene. I told dear Emily so the other day."

"She didn't want you to, did she?" said Irene, with sudden fierceness.

"Oh no; but she did ask me what I found in you to make you more precious
than any other girl in the school, and I said"----

"What did you say? Look me in the face, Agnes."

Agnes looked up with her melting, loving eyes.

"I said that somehow or other I loved you, and I did not love the
others."

"Ah! there you struck the nail on the head," said Irene. "Look here,
Agnes; if anything happened to divide us I'd get worse than ever;
because, you see, I am cleverer than I used to be."

"Nothing can come to divide us," said little Agnes. "What could?"

"I am only saving that if anything did I'd be worse than ever."

"I wish you wouldn't talk like that."

"I can't help it sometimes, for I am--yes, I am--much cleverer now."

This little conversation took place in a small arbor at the Rectory; and
just at this moment some one called Agnes, and Agnes, looking for
permission at Irene, who nodded in reply, ran off. A moment later Miss
Carter herself entered the bower, where Irene was still sitting.

"So you are not afraid of me now, Cartery dear," said Irene, speaking in
the sort of tone which she supposed Maud Singleton adopted.

"No, I am not afraid of you. You are much altered. I came to say how
much I admire you. In short, you are not the same girl you used to be."

"Well, it is owing to two influences," said Irene: "to Rosamund, who is
so strong and brave, and took me in hand, and showed me myself, and did
not express a scrap of fright, however much terror I tried to inspire
her with; and it is owing also to even a stronger influence."

"And what is that?" said Miss Carter.

"Well, you see, there is that little thing--that darling--I can scarcely
speak her name without trembling. I love her so much. She is like my own
little child."

"Do you mean little Agnes Frost?"

"Oh yes. She is nothing to the rest of you. I do not wish her to be.
She is all--all mine; and if anything happened to her, if she were taken
from me, if I had to do without her, I should become worse than ever."

"But what do you mean?" said Miss Carter. "Why should little Agnes be
taken from you?"

"I don't suppose anybody would dare to take her from me. Frosty
wouldn't, and mother wouldn't; the school