hat she had and started, with her
heart in her mouth, fearing the grandeur of the Marchesa's house. On
her arrival she was received by Nina, who at once threw herself into
all her old intimacy. "Oh, Ayala," she said, "this is so nice to have
you again. I have been looking forward to this ever since we left
Rome."

"Yes," said Ayala, "it is nice."

"But why did you tell mamma you would not come? What nonsense to
talk to her about frocks? Why not come and tell me? You used to have
everything at Rome, much more than I had."

Then Ayala began to explain the great difference between Uncle Tom
and Uncle Reginald,--how Uncle Tom had so many thousands that nobody
could count them, how Uncle Reginald was so shorn in his hundreds
that there was hardly enough to supply the necessaries of life.
"You see," she said, "when papa died Lucy and I were divided. I
got the rich uncle, and Lucy got the poor one; but I made myself
disagreeable, and didn't suit, and so we have been changed."

"But why did you make yourself disagreeable?" said Nina, opening her
eyes. "I remember when we were at Rome your cousin Augusta was always
quarrelling with you. I never quite knew what it was all about."

"It wasn't only that," said Ayala, whispering.

"Did you do anything very bad?"

Then it occurred to Ayala that she might tell the whole story to
her friend, and she told it. She explained the nature of that great
persecution as to Tom. "And that was the real reason why we were
changed," said Ayala, as she completed her story.

"I remember seeing the young man," said Nina.

"He is such a lout!"

"But was he very much in love?" asked Nina.

"Well, I don't know. I suppose he was after his way. I don't think
louts like that can be very much in love to signify. Young men when
they look like that would do with one girl as well as another."

"I don't see that at all," said Nina.

"I am sure he would if he'd only try. At any rate what's the good of
his going on? They can't make a girl marry unless she chooses."

"Won't he be rich?"

"Awfully rich," said Ayala.

"Then I should think about it again," said the young lady from Rome.

"Never," said Ayala, with an impressive whisper. "I will never think
about it again. If he were made of diamonds I would not think about
it again."

"And is that why you were changed?" said Nina.

"Well, yes. No; it is very hard to explain. Aunt Emmeline told me
that--that I encouraged him. I thought I should