She liked to hear him speak like this, for his manner at these times was always bright and confident. She attempted on occasions to draw him into conversation about the growing estrangement between him and his grandfather; but he steadily refused to speak upon the subject, farther than to say that "grandfather is not treating me well; he suspects me of I don't know what, and it isn't likely that I'm going to stand it." "Of what can he suspect you, Alfred?" asked Lily. "That's where it is. That's what I ask myself, for he never tells me. The fact of it is, Lily, grandfather is an old man, and I'm a young one. You can't put an old head on young shoulders, you know. I'm fond of pleasure and of seeing a little bit of life. All young fellows are. He'll confess himself wrong about me one of these days, and then it will be all right. Until then I sha'n't bother myself about it, and don't you. Perhaps I've a secret, and he wants to know it." "Have you a secret, Alfred? I thought you told me everything." "I only said 'perhaps,' Lily. I'll tell you by-and-by, when the proper time comes." "Then you really have one. Come"--coaxingly, and with her arm round his neck--"tell me, Alf, or shall I guess it?" He looked at her hesitatingly, as if half tempted to tell her, but he resisted the inclination. "Not now, Lily, not now.--Everybody's got a secret, and perhaps--mind, I only say perhaps--I've got mine. Girls have their secrets as well as men. All except you, Lily. You haven't got one, I know; you wouldn't keep a secret from me, I'll be bound." Lily blushed, and felt like a traitor, but she did not answer. She almost guessed his secret, and was glad of it, for it was a new bond of union between them. But as hers was sacred, so she felt his to be; she kissed him tenderly, and, looking into his eyes, with all her heart in hers, read something there it thrilled her to see. Then Alfred showed her a new chain he had bought, and while she was admiring it, Old Wheels entered the room. "Show it to grandfather, Alf," she said. But Alfred buttoned his coat, and said that grandfather didn't take an interest in such things. He fretted, however, because the old man glanced at him somewhat sadly and significantly, and very soon found an excuse to leave. "Alfred goes out a great deal now, Lily," said Old Wheels. "Do you know where he goes to?" "No," replied Lily, "but I suspect--I suspect!" with an arch glance at her grandfather. "What do you suspect, my dear?" "You must guess for yourself, dear grandfather, for I know nothing--nothing yet. But supposing--just supposing, grandfather--that a young man has a portrait in his pocket which he looks at very often, and won't let anybody else see for the world--that is a sign, isn't it?" She asked this with a sly look into her grandfather's face; he was silent for a while, and said presently, "Alfred has such a portrait, Lily?"