On coming out of the shop she turned on to the moors for a last walk before going to Paris, for there would be plenty to do at home such as darning stockings, mending clothes, etc: She called for Nelly Reeves (a friend of hers); it would be a good chance to outdo her thought Beatrice, for Nelly had been to Italy the year before and did nothing but boast of it all day. So the two girls arm in arm started for the moors. Nelly Reeves was a tall good looking girl, slightly pretty, but with none of the wistful beauty about her that was so clearly stamped on all Beatrice Langton's features. She had black hair and what she considered beautiful eyes, though they really were small and vacant in their perpetual stare. "Well I hope you will enjoy yourself" she remarked briskly when Beatrice told her of the invitation to Paris. "I am sure I shall," said Beatrice, gently feeling her hair behind, "only think of the delights of it! The Vindsors live in a Chateau you know!" "Yes, I suppose it will be jolly for you," said Nelly "who are the Vindsors?" "Oh dont you remember Clara Vindsor?" said Beatrice, "she was so very pretty and polite in her ways." "I recollect her," said Nelly gazing on the far away blue hills, "oh Beatrice how lovely that view is!" "Yes," said Beatrice sadly, "I came up here last night for a walk." "Alone?" asked Nelly. Beatrice wished she had not spoken then, but being frank and straightforward she replied "no I was not alone." "Who with?" enquired Nelly. "Never mind," retorted Beatrice. "Oh Beatrice do tell me" coaxed Nelly, I'll not tell a soul." "I dont care if you do," said Beatrice coldly. "Well let me see if I can guess" said Nelly artfully "was it Mr Cathcart?" "What makes you guess him?" asked Beatrice angrily. "Why because he has been paying attentions to you lately, and I thought he might have come up here to propose" said Nelly. "You have most silly ideas!" retorted Beatrice, "if you dont leave off please to go home, what if he did propose?" "Oh nothing at all," replied Nelly, "if you are so disagreeable I _will_ go home," so saying Miss Reeves tucked up her dress and walked home. "Life is hard!" sighed Beatrice, "nothing seems to go right, first I quarrel with Lawrence and then with Nelly--why what is that?" she cried as she caught sight of something gold glittering in the pathway. She stooped to pick it up; it was a gentleman's gold link, beautifully carved and engraved with the initials L. C. "L. C." repeated Beatrice handling the link pensively "why they are his initials, can it be his I wonder? why yes" she continued, "here is the name Lawrence Cathcart; His Links! yes they are his, I will keep them and I may some day have occasion to return them to him," so saying she put the articles in her leather purse and turned towards home.