“I didn’t know. I forgot you might want to keep it even from me, and that I hadn’t any right to make you tell me. I forgot everything except that I was bound to make you acknowledge that I had prophesied truly. I did that,” she added, half in triumph, though she was really much subdued. She went close to Jeanie, and attempted to put her arm around her friend, but Jeanie pushed her away. Agnes grew more penitent as she realized how deeply she had offended, and she stood the picture of contrition. “I’m so sorry, Jeanie,” she said, after a pause in which only Jeanie’s sobs could be heard. “I’ll never, never tell any one. I will not, truly. I see now I was very wicked to tease you so, but I know David likes you better than anybody, and--please be friends and I’ll tell you why he seemed to like being with me--I talked about you all the time.” At this Jeanie raised her head. “Are you telling me the truth, Nancy?” “Of course I am. You shouldn’t say that even if I have teased you. You know I always tell the truth.” “How came you to think of that--of talking about me?” “Because--” It was Agnes’s turn to hang her head. “You said once when you wanted to please Archie and get him to do anything for you that you had but to talk of me.” “Then--now tell me the truth, since you know my secret--do you like Archie?” “Yes--I like him, but I do not like to think of marrying any one. I will not think of it till I see my mother again.” “But we are as old as our mothers were when they were married.” “Yes, and older than Polly, who was but fifteen, and is now only twenty-four. But I want to wait, so don’t fash me about it, Jeanie, till my mother comes. I am in no haste.” “No more am I, though I--I--” “Yes, I know; you--you--will wait for David, and you will not have long to wait if you but give him half a chance.” At this Jeanie put her arms around Agnes and peace was concluded, Agnes feeling that though she had gained her point, it was at the sorry cost of a bit of her own self-respect, and she felt ashamed at having pressed Jeanie so hard as to make her give up the secret which was her own dear girlish dream. She determined at once that she would do all that she could to make matters easy for the pair, and that they should never have reason to reproach her for a lack of friendship.