"'_When shall you start_?' she said, resuming her work and fixing her eyes on her pattern. "'_To-morrow, at the latest_,' he replied, transferring the letter to his pocket. "'_Have you told my aunt_?' she said, searching her work-basket for her scissors. "'_Not yet: I must do it now_,' he said, putting back the little ornament his elbow had displaced. "'_Shall you go direct to London_?' she said, trying to disentangle a skein of colored yarn. "'_No: I stop one night at the Grange_,' he said quietly, but with an air of decision. "'_Then I will ask you to be the bearer of my letter_,' she added, laying down her work as she spoke. "'_Is that all you will permit me to do for you_?' he asked anxiously. "'_Oh, I never burden my friends_,' she said, raising her head and tossing back her curls. "'_Then you have no belief in true friendship_,' he answered in a tone of bitterness." "That is pretty good," said Constance to herself, "but I will take these two young people out of doors: perhaps Philip may be better pleased: "'_Your letter has arrived, I see_,' said Helena, advancing as Bertram opened the garden gate. "'_Yes, I have just read it_,' he replied as he secured the fastening. "'_Well_?' said Helena, taking the path to the house. "'_It says I must delay no longer_,' he replied, proffering her a bunch of wild-flowers he had gathered in his walk. "'_When shall you start_?' said Helena, turning away to pluck some rosebuds, which she added to her bouquet. "'_Tomorrow, at the latest_,' he answered, flinging aside roughly a branch that crossed his path. "'_Have you told my aunt_?' said Helena, tying the strings of her hat. "'_No: I must do it now_,' he said, holding out his hand to relieve her of her parasol as they entered the shady avenue. "'_Shall you go direct to London_?' she asked hurriedly. "'_No: I stop one night at the Grange_,' he said, inviting her by a gesture to take a seat upon a rustic bench. "'_Oh, then I will ask you to be the bearer of my letter_,' she said, quickening her steps lest he should perceive her emotion. "'_Is that all you will permit me to do for you_?' he said, with more feeling than he had yet permitted himself to show. "'_Yes: I am careful not to burden my friends_,' she added, drawing her mantle round her and speaking in a tone of irony. "'_Then you do not believe in true friendship_,' he replied as they reached the house, and with a heightened color he threw back the hall door and made way for her to enter." NOTES.