"Poor Dick," exclaims Mollie sorrowfully, and she jumps up from the table to give him a sisterly hug and a kiss. "I declare it is a shame. I shan't see you so neglected." "Thank you, my dear," returns Dick, with a grin, "that isn't quite the same, but it is very sweet." "Oh, dear," sighs Nan, as they push back their chairs, and wander into the drawing-room, "how queer it seems to have Helen and Jean engaged. It is all very amusing now, but what will become of us next summer. I am afraid our compact is about at an end." Cliff, who is standing near Eleanor, bends down to whisper something to her, and then pushes her gently into the middle of the room. She faces the group before her with flaming cheeks, and looks about her helplessly. "Girls, I suppose I must confess. I, too, am a traitor to our compact." "O Eleanor," cries Jean, excitedly, and puts a tender arm about her. Cliff leans against the mantel, as nonchalant and languid as ever; but his eyes rest on Eleanor with infinite pride and content. The girl turns toward the others with a graceful gesture of appeal. "Am I forgiven?" They crowd about her with eager, loving words of congratulation; and then, when the confusion has subsided, Nan begs their attention for a moment. "I have some news for you." "O Nan! don't tell us you are engaged," implores Mollie dolorously. Nan burst into a merry laugh. "What an idea! No indeed. But, girls and boys what do you think? Emily is _married_!" "_Married?_" they cry in one breath. "Yes, married to a very rich widower, with gray hair, and three big children, and oh, lots of money!" and Nan almost chokes in her haste to enumerate all these virtues. "Now, Nan, be sensible, and take a long breath, and tell us all about it," says Nathalie. "Well, he owns a fine place at B----, where Em lives, and he knew her when she was a little bit of a girl. He married and went to England to live. About two years ago his wife died and this fall he returned to B----, renewed his acquaintance with Em, proposed to her, and yesterday they were married." "What unseemly haste!" Mollie exclaims. "No, not a bit of it. They didn't mean to be married until spring, but Mr. Hazletine was suddenly recalled to England on important business, which may keep him there several months, and he was so unhappy at leaving Em that she consented to be married at once and go with him." "To think of it! I suppose now Emily will roll by in her carriage, wear magnificent clothes, and completely dazzle us with her jewels of inestimable value." "So much the better, Mollie," rejoins Helen heartily. "Poor little Em has tasted of poverty all her life. Think what a relief it will be to her to have ample means." "It is fine," cries Eleanor. "And what in the world shall we do?" groans Nathalie with a comical glance at Nan and Mollie. "Laugh at their love-making, and, with the hansom driver, be glad we are not in it." "O Nan, you rowdy," laughs Jean.