"Oh, about three months. I met him the night Mrs. Bryant gave that theater party." "Did Mrs. Bryant introduce him to you? Was he with her party?" "N-o; but Nellie Nixon knew him and introduced us on our way out after the play." "Does your guardian know of your engagement?" "No. Ned thought it would be as well not to say anything about it at present," Sadie reluctantly admitted, but cringing visibly at the question. "Dearest," said Katherine, fondly, "I feel that I have no right to 'meddle,' as you say, in your affairs, but I do not see how you can respect or trust a man who would draw you into a secret engagement and then endanger your reputation and standing in school by insisting upon clandestine meetings. If he possessed a fine sense of honor he would go to your guardian, frankly tell him of his regard for you, and ask his permission to address you openly. What is Mr. Willard's business, Sadie?" "I--I don't know," the girl confessed, with\ embarrassment. Then bridling, added: "Well, but I don't care shucks about that. I have money enough for both--or shall have next year, when I am twenty- one." "I am afraid he is of the same opinion," Katherine said, to herself; but, thinking it might be unwise to dwell upon that point, made no reply. "You are not going to tell anyone, honey," Sadie pleaded, and pausing upon the steps before entering the building. "I think it will be downright mean if you do," she added, hotly, as she saw the troubled look on her chum's face. "Sadie, I wouldn't for the world do anything for the sake of being 'mean'; but I am sure you are doing very wrong, and will deeply regret it some day," was the grave reply. "If you give me away it will get me into an awful scrape." "I know it; and my greatest concern is to save you from anything of the kind. Will you stop meeting Mr. Willard on the sly?" "Oh, Katherine, and not see him at all!" exclaimed Sadie, in a voice of dismay. "Dear, are you so fond of him?" queried Katherine, gently. The girl flushed from neck to brow. "Indeed--indeed, I am," she confessed, with downcast eyes. "Well, then, if it has gone that far he should at least allow you to respect him!" said Katherine, a thrill of indignation vibrating in her tones. "Don't go on this way, Sadie," she pleaded; "write him that you cannot meet him again in any such way; but tell him, if he will make himself known to your guardian, and get his permission to call upon you, you will receive him here." "If I will do that, will you promise not to say anything about to- night?" demanded the girl, eagerly. "Yes," Katherine replied, after a moment of thought; at the same time she did not feel quite satisfied with the state of affairs. "All right; I will write Ned to-morrow and tell him," Sadie returned, with a sigh of relief as they entered the building and passed on to their room. Before going to rest, Katherine slipped away to see Miss Reynolds and ascertain if she could do anything for her before retiring.