So Nelly dined with them that day, and Charley took her down, and sat between her and Laura, "behaving more jolly than ever he did before," so Nelly vowed; while Laura could not but own to the quiet, staid, gentlemanly tact with which he avoided all the past; and trembling and hopeful, she watched him unseen the whole evening. He did not, neither did she, seek a _tete-a-tete_; but at the first opportunity Nelly dragged him aside in one of the drawing-rooms, under the pretence of showing him pictures; and though Laura saw all, she did not stir. "That's pretty, ain't it?" said Nelly. "I sketched that." Then in a low voice, "You like me, Charley, don't you?" "Yes, very much, my child," said Charley quietly. "Do you want me to do something for you?" "No," said Nelly; "I only want to say something." "Go on, then." "You will not be cross?" "No." "Are you sure?" "Yes, yes, my child," said Charley sadly. "It's about that I wanted to talk to you," said Nelly. "I don't like seeing you so low and dumpy when you ought to be jolly and happy. You know you are miserable about some one that I got to love very--very much." Charley was silent; but his breath came thick and fast. "And do you know, I'm sure that, if she had been left alone she would have been all that's wise and good and dear? May I go on?" "Yes," said Charley, with quite a hiss. "I thought you would like me to say anything, when you wouldn't hear it from any one else. Do you know, Charley, you mustn't be miserable about Miss B--any more? and if I wasn't going to have Hugh Lingon when I get big--I mean old enough--I should ask you to let me love you, and try and comfort you, and make you happy. I do love you very much now, you know, but I mean the other way." She was silent for a few moments, while he went on turning over the pictures. "Charley," she then said earnestly, "I don't think she has done right; but whether she's been persuaded, or somebody's told stories about you. Max goes to see her very often--nearly every day now--and she writes to him lots of letters. O Charley, dear Charley!" she half sobbed, "what have I done? Pray!--please don't look like that! I thought telling you would make you leave off looking miserable, and ready to be happy again when you knew you couldn't have her. But pray--pray don't look like that!" For the young man's ghastly face had frightened her, as he stood gazing full in her eyes, crushing the while one of the drawings in his hand. "How do you know that?" he whispered hoarsely. "I heard Max tell Laury; and one day, when I went with her to his rooms, there was a whole heap of little narrow envelopes directed to him, and they were all in her handwriting. But please try and not fret, or I shall be so--so unhappy."