wanted him to shut the door as he passed; that was all. It
had stood open, as it usually did on warm days. Could his mother wish
it shut on account of anything she was saying? It was possible.

"O Hugh!" exclaimed Agnes, as soon as he set foot on the leads. "What do
you think?--But is the parlour door shut? Who shut it?"

"Mother bade me shut it, as I passed."

"O dear!" said Agnes, in a tone of disappointment; "then she did not
mean us to hear what they were talking about."

"What was it? Anything about the Crofton boys? Anything about Phil?"

"I cannot tell you a word about it. Mamma did not know I heard them. How
plain one can hear what they say in that parlour, Hugh, when the door is
open! What do you think I heard mamma tell Mrs. Bicknor, last week, when
I was jumping Harry off the third stair?"

"Never mind that. Tell me what they are talking about now. Do, Agnes."

Agnes shook her head.

"Now do, dear."

It was hard for Agnes to refuse Hugh anything, at any time; more still
when he called her "dear," which he seldom did; and most of all when he
put his arm round her neck, as he did now. But she answered,--

"I should like to tell you every word; but I cannot now. Mamma has made
you shut the door. She does not wish you to hear it."

"Me! Then will you tell Jane?"

"Yes. I shall tell Jane, when we are with mamma at work."

"That is too bad!" exclaimed Hugh, flinging himself down on the leads so
vehemently that his sister was afraid he would roll over into the yard.
"What does Jane care about Crofton and the boys to what I do?"

"There is one boy there that Jane cares about more than you do, or I, or
anybody, except papa and mamma. Jane loves Phil."

"O, then, what they are saying in the parlour is about Phil."

"I did not say that."

"You pretend you love me as Jane loves Phil! and now you are going to
tell her what you wont tell me! Agnes, I will tell you everything I know
all my whole life, if you will just whisper this now. Only just
whisper--Or, I will tell you what. I will guess and guess; and you can
nod or shake your head. That wont be telling."

"For shame, Hugh! Phil would laugh at you for being a girl, if you are
so curious. What mamma told Mrs. Bicknor was that Jane was her right
hand. What do you think that meant exactly?"

"That Jane might give you a good slap when you are so provoking," said
Hugh, rolling over and over, till his clothes were covered with dust,
and Agnes really th