"Let's sit down--shall we? I'm so tired." And Noemi took her seat on the garden bench, just where her mother had sat on the night of the theatricals. "Why, you are crying! What's the matter?" exclaimed Renee, sitting down by her. Noemi let her head fall on her friend's shoulder and burst into tears, that were quite hot as they fell on Renee's hand. "What is it, tell me--answer me--speak, Noemi--come now, Noemi dear!" "Oh, you don't know!" answered Noemi, in broken words, which seemed to choke her. "I won't--no, I cannot tell you--if only you knew. Oh, do help me!" and she flung her arms round Renee in despair. "I love you dearly--you----" "Come, come, Noemi; I don't understand anything. Is it this marriage--is it my brother? You must answer me--come!" "Ah, yes; you are his sister--I had forgotten that. Oh, dear, I wish I could die----" "Die, but why?" "Why? Because your brother----" She stopped short, in horror at the thought of uttering the words she was just going to say, and then, suddenly finishing her sentence in a murmur in Renee's ear, she hid her face on her friend's shoulder to conceal her blushing cheeks and the shame she felt in her inmost soul. "My brother! You say--no, it's a lie!" exclaimed Renee, pushing her away and springing up with a bound in front of her. "Should _I_ tell a lie about it?" and Noemi looked up sadly at Renee, who read the truth clearly in her eyes. Renee folded her arms and gazed at her friend. She stood there a few minutes deep in thought, erect and silent, her whole attitude resolute and energetic. She felt within herself the strength of a woman, and something of the responsibility of a mother with this child. "But how can your father--" she began, "my brother has no name but ours." "He is to take another one." "Ah, he is going to give our name up? And quite right that he should!" XXIV