Bitter burning tears rolled down her cheeks and dropped on her heaving bosom. It was so hard to be ruled by this coarse woman, who envied and hated her in the same breath. "She is going to make you marry her son, too. She told her daughter that she was determined to bring that about, so he might share your fortune," Susette remarked at this juncture. CHAPTER VIII. "PLEASE BUY MY DIAMOND NECKLACE," SAID KATHLEEN. I've no mother, now I'm weeping-- She has left me here alone; She beneath the sod is sleeping, Now there is no joy at home. _Old Song_. Before Kathleen could reply, the door opened softly and Helen Fox came in with two letters in her hand. Kissing Kathleen good morning, she exclaimed: "What do you think? The postman has just brought me a proposal!" "From Loyal Graham?" queried her friend. Helen blushed up to her eyes, but answered, gayly: "No, indeed--from Teddy Darrell." Kathleen arched her black eyebrows in surprise. "Teddy Darrell! Why, he proposed to _me_ last week," she said. "And did he ask you to keep it a _secret_?" asked Helen, consulting her letter, her blue eyes dancing with fun. "Yes, he did, now that I recall it. Oh, my! I'm sorry I mentioned it; but you took me by surprise." "There's no harm done, my dear, and you need not look so conscience-stricken. Bless you, I don't mean to keep it a secret, although he prays me here to do so. Why, Teddy Darrell is the worst flirt in Boston, and proposes to a new girl every week, always trying to keep the new love a secret from the old one." "But does no one ever accept him, Helen?" "Perhaps. I don't know, I'm sure I sha'n't, and I'm just dying to tell the girls. Why, only last week we were comparing notes over him, and out of seven girls in the crowd he had asked five to marry him. Maud Sylvester said I'd be the next one on his list, and you see I am." "But how can he fall in love so often?" queried Kathleen, laughing. "He's very susceptible, I suppose, or maybe it's all in fun. You know some young men like to be engaged to several girls at once, so they can boast of their conquests, and maybe he's one of them. Well, I must lacerate his poor heart by a refusal," with a mock sigh. "Who will be his next victim?" asked Kathleen. "Either Maud Sylvester or Katie Wells. One is an actress, the other a novelist. He is wild over both fraternities." "How amusing!" laughed her friend. "But your other letter, Helen? Is it another proposal?" "No; this is an invitation to attend a flower show." "From Loyal Graham?" "Ye-es," Helen answered, a little consciously. "But, Kathleen, how pale you are! Did you not sleep well?" "No; I was restless," answered the girl. She debated within herself whether she ought to tell Helen of the news Susette had brought. She concluded that she would not just yet. "Come, we will go down to breakfast, dear," Helen said, drawing an arm through Kathleen's to lead her away.