Grace stole into the library, and locked the door. "Miss Gracie," cried the sorrowful voice of black Phebe. No answer. At last, Phebe came to the library door and rattled it. Grace whispered through the key-hole,-- "Ask the person into the parlor, Phebe, and say I'll be down very soon." _The person!_ "O, won't I be dignified?" thought Miss Grace, walking the floor with a queen-like tread. But the affection of years was tugging at her heart-strings. "I'll not cry." She flung off the bright drop which fell on her hand. "I'll not be caught crying, when anybody I've loved as I did that girl--" Grace hastened down stairs, and "turned her tears to sparks of fire." "How d'ye, Miss Cassy?" Her old friend stood looking out of a window, her back towards the door. She felt the chill in Grace's voice, and was frozen stiff in a minute. "How d'ye, Miss Grace?" without moving her head. "Pleasant day. Please be seated, Miss Cassy." "Thank you, Miss Grace; I must be going." Cassy moved forward. The sun shone straight into her honest face. Grace saw its expression of astonishment, mingled with pride and grief. "Cassy Hallock, don't go yet." "Thank you, Grace Clifford; can't stop--only came to bring your ma some beer. In the music-room, on the piano." "Cassy Hallock, what's the matter with you?" "Gracie Clifford, what's the matter with YOU?" "You've been talking about me, Cassy," Grace burst forth, impetuously. "You've slandered me worse than I can bear. You think I'm proud and forward. Your ma don't like us to be friends. You say my hair is fire-red. O, Cassy Hallock!" Cassy's eyes expanded. "Who said that?" "Isa Harrington." "The biggest lie that ever was told!" "O, Cassy Hallock: then _'tisn't_ true!" "True, Gracie Clifford! and you my best friend!" "Are you right sure you never said so, Cassy?" "There, that's enough, Gracie Clifford. I'll not deny it again. If you believe Isa, and won't believe me, it's just as well. Good by." And Cassy moved to the door with "majestical high scorn." "Cassy Hallock," cried Grace, throwing her arms about her friend's neck, "you're not going one step. I don't believe a word of that lie, and never did!" Cassy allowed herself to be detained, but still held the door-knob in her hand. "I'll tell you what it is, Gracie Clifford. I'll not say how much I think of you, because you know; but if you can't trust me, there's the end of it." "O, I can trust you, I do trust you, Cassy. You're one of the salts of the earth--salt, I mean." "A small pinch," suggested Cassy, almost smiling. "O, Cassy, there's nobody in this world so splendid as you are!" But Cassy's indignation was not quite appeased. "Where's your ring, Gracie?" "Lost. O, you don't know how I feel about that. I'm afraid our Phebe stole it." "Glad of it." "Why, Cassy, you're crazy! That regard-ring, dear, that your ma gave you, and you gave me for my emerald, down by the acorn-tree! Why, Cassy!"