Nellie sat up rather frightened, but was soon reassured by Christina's presence and love, and by the pleasant smell of the fragrant cup by her side. They sat in silence for a while, sipping their tea, until at last Christina said: "You need not tell me a word; I guess it all, Nellie." "How do you guess?" asked Nellie, frightened that she had betrayed her secret. "I have known it would be so for ever so long. No one could see you together, at least no one loving you as I do, without knowing how it was." Nellie laid her head on the kind shoulder and felt it a comfort to cry. "Do you think I have been right?" she asked presently. "He seemed to feel I was almost wicked." "Dear Nellie," she answered softly, "I do not see what you could have done else, now." "I did think it right all along," said Nellie; "but to-day I feel wretched, half fearing that I have acted unfairly to him; and yet I have tried so hard that he should understand without all this." "I am sure you have; I have seen it when I have been with you. He must have been wilfully blind." "You see he didn't want to believe I could be in earnest," said Nellie, very low. "But he should have been willing to wait, Nellie." "He was," answered she; "but I would not let him. Oh, Christina, you do not think I ought to have let him?" "I do not know exactly, dear. Your father would tell you best." "I was wondering whether it would be my duty to tell papa; it would add so to his sorrow; and I could not think of leaving them all now, Christina; it would be very wrong." "Yes, now; but in a year or two?" "I felt I ought not to accept in that sort of fashion; it seemed to me very hard on him to keep him waiting indefinitely; and I could not bear for dear papa to have this to think about, when he believes he has got me as his comfort and help." "Yes; I see it all," answered Christina sadly; "but I feel perplexed, Nellie. I wish you would tell Dr. Arundel." "I will, if you think I ought; anyway I should have done so after a time; but it can make no difference now," she added; "for he left me in anger, and I told him I would not. Nothing could have been plainer." "Oh, my Nellie, my Nellie!" Nellie raised her head. "Don't pity me, Christina; I shall be glad soon. Just now you have caught me tired and stupid; but I shall be better soon. It has been the thought of hurting him which has been the worst." That evening Nellie told her father in a few words of the offer she had received, and of her refusal. Dr. Arundel heard her story, holding his arm round her, and hardly glancing at the downcast face. At last he said, "But, Nellie, my child, I wish you would tell me; should you have refused him, if things had not been as they are at home?" Nellie hesitated; and then said quickly, "But, papa, how could I leave it all?"