When the door-bell rang Olivia laid down her work with a pleased smile, and the next moment Greta entered the room. "How late you are, you naughty girl," she said, kissing her affectionately. "I have been sewing for the last hour." "Yes, I know; something unforeseen detained me," and then Greta dropped her eyes in sudden embarrassment and blushed. "Oh, Olive dear, can you guess what I have to tell you this afternoon?" and then Olivia looked at her steadily. "Do you mean," she began, anxiously--but Greta, blushing still more rosily, interrupted her, "Yes, I do mean it; and, Olive, dear friend, truest of friends, you must congratulate me, for I am so happy." "You take my breath away, Greta. Are you and Alwyn actually engaged?" "Yes, dear, we settled it this afternoon; but, of course--of course, I have known for weeks what he meant and wished. He has gone round now to tell his father, and will be here presently. Dear Olive, why are you so silent? Are you not glad about this?" "I am glad that anything should make you happy," returned Olivia, gently. "And you know how deeply interested I am in your and Alwyn's welfare. But forgive me, Greta, if I ask one question. Are you sure, are you perfectly sure, that this step will be for your happiness----" Then Greta looked at her in surprise, and there was a reproachful expression in her grey eyes. "Sure! when I have loved him all these months. My dear Olive, what can you mean? Alwyn is the only man I could ever marry." "Oh, how it relieves me to hear you say that Dear Greta, I am so fond of you both. Alwyn is charming; but until you said that I was afraid to congratulate you. You know my views on this subject, dear. Do you remember how we talked on the beach at Eastbourne? I am afraid that more than once I made you a little sad; but I was thinking of this. I knew then in my own mind that Alwyn had begun to care for you, and I wanted you to have plenty of time for consideration." "Oh, yes; you made your meaning clear to me even then," returned Greta, smiling; "but, indeed, no consideration was necessary. When Alwyn came to me and said quite simply that he loved me and wanted me to be his wife, I just put my hand in his without a word. It almost shocked me to see his gratitude. He kept saying over and over again that he was not worthy of me; that he knew he had done nothing to win my respect, and I should not be able to look up to him. Oh, Olive, he quite broke down when he said this, but I soon comforted him. 'I only remember two things,' I said to him,--'that you love me, and that you need me.' And after that we understood each other." "Dearest Greta. Aunt Madge was right when she told me that you were born into the world to be somebody's crutch."