"Ah, Janet!" exclaimed Harry, catching her hands in his, "you know how I have loved her from the first. You will speak for me, will you not?" "No; why should I?" said Janet, coldly, as she turned from him to Patty, taking her to her breast in a motherly fashion, as if to protect her. "She is rich now, and you are proud to know her; but look back at when she was poor. You were ashamed to know her then before your fine friends. And then look at your cruel suspicions. Do you think I could not read them all? I have told her a hundred times over that yours was but a passing fancy--that you saw her pretty face, and liked it, and-- and that was all." "I was weak and unjust, I know," said Harry; "but have I not tried to expiate my sin? But why do you speak of a passing fancy? What do you mean? How can you be so unjust? Are there to be fresh riddles now?" "Why should you trouble her when you are promised to some one else?" cried Janet, fiercely, as she turned upon him, holding Patty to her breast the while, and stroking her luxuriant hair. "I! Promised to some one else?" exclaimed Harry. "Well, yes," he added, gloomily. "I suppose it is to be so--to Alma Mater--to my studies." "Hush, Patty. No; I will not be silent," cried Janet, excitedly; for Patty had turned imploringly to her. "I _will_ speak to him--I will not be silent. Have you," she exclaimed to Harry, "have you forgotten your stay in Essex, at a pleasant house with a lawn in front, stretching down to the road?" She looked at him searchingly, as if she would read his very thoughts, while she awaited his answer. "Forgotten! no, certainly not," said Harry. "Nearly two years ago, was it not?" "Yes, yes; I see that you remember," cried Janet, with a tinge of sarcasm in her tones. "Well!" said Harry, looking from one to the other in evident perplexity, for Patty's eyes were fixed upon him anxiously, as if her happiness depended upon his answer. "Well!" said Janet, scornfully, "do you remember?" "You are speaking in riddles," cried Harry, almost angrily, in his turn. "What does this mean? If you allude to my visit nearly two years since, with a brother student to his home--yes, I was there a week--a pleasant, happy week of home-life, such as I have seldom known." "Happy, no doubt," said Janet, harshly. There was a simple look of wonder and bewilderment in Harry's face that directly disarmed suspicion, and the harsh aspect slowly faded from Janet's countenance as the young man said calmly-- "Janet, I cannot understand what you would accuse me of; but it cannot be any falling away from my love for Patty; and as to being promised to another, I never till now spoke words of love to woman."