"Yes, I expect she has come this way, and I want to find her," returned Eliza Tyrrett vehemently. "I saw her making off out of Honey Fair, and I saw who was waiting for her round the corner. I knew my company wasn't wanted then, and turned into Dame Buffle's for a talk; and there I found that Madam Carry has been telling falsehoods about me. Let me set on to her, that's all! I shall say what she won't like." "Who do you mean was waiting for her?" inquired Charlotte East. Eliza Tyrrett laughed. She was beginning to recover her temper. "You'd like to know, wouldn't you?" said she pertly. "But I'm not going to tell tales out of school." "I think I do know," returned Charlotte quietly. "I fear I do." "Do you? I thought nobody knew nothing about it but me. It has been going on this ten weeks. Did you see her, though, Charlotte?" "I thought I saw her, but I could not believe my eyes. She was with--with--some one she has no business to be with." "Oh, as to business, I don't know about that," carelessly answered Eliza Tyrrett. "We have a right to walk with anybody we like." "Whether it is good or bad for you?" returned Charlotte. "There's no 'bad' in it," cried Eliza Tyrrett indignantly. "I never saw such an old maid as you are, Charlotte East, never! Carry Mason's not a child, to be led into mischief." "Carry's very foolish," was Charlotte's comment. "Oh, of course _you_ think so, or it wouldn't be you. You'll go and tell upon her at home, I suppose, now." "I shall tell _her_," said Charlotte. "Folks should choose their acquaintances in their own class of life, if they want things to turn out pleasantly." "Were you not all took in about that shawl!" uttered Eliza Tyrrett, with a laugh. "You thought she went in debt for it at Bankes's, and her people at home thought so. Het Mason shrieked on at her like anything, for spending money on her back while she owed it for her board. _He_ gave her that." "Eliza!" "He did. Law, where's the harm? He is rich enough to give all us girls in Honey Fair one apiece, and who'd be the worse for it? Only his pocket; and that can afford it. I wish he would!" "I wish you would not talk so, Eliza. She is not a fit companion for him, even though it is but to take a walk; and she ought to remember that she is not." "He wants her for a longer companion than that," observed Eliza Tyrrett; "that is, if he tells true. He wants her to marry him." "He--wants her to marry him!" repeated Charlotte, speaking the words in sheer amazement. "Who says so?" "He does. I should hardly think he can be in earnest, though." "Eliza Tyrrett, we cannot be speaking of the same person," cried Charlotte, feeling bewildered. "To whom have you been alluding?" "To the same that you have, I expect. Young Anthony Dare." CHAPTER XXVII. THE FORGOTTEN LETTER.