“I hope you have not been unkind to my little cousin,” said Warren changing the subject, as he thought Paul was really thinking of his mother. “Been unkind to her? been unkind to your cousin?” said Paul, looking Warren squarely in the face; “I would sooner cut my right hand off than say one word to offend that lovely little girl.” Warren saw he was deeply troubled as he answered, “Paul, what then is the matter?” “I cannot tell you; go find your cousin. Perhaps she will tell you.” Paul’s voice trembled, and Warren readily guessed the cause, as he thought Paul had sued for the hand of his cousin and had been refused. He went to find Nettie and he thought she would readily tell him all he wished to know. He looked, but could not find her anywhere among the company. At last he found Minnie and asked her where Nettie was. “I have not seen her for a long time; I saw her last with Mr. Burton.” “She is not with him now and has not been for some time. I wish you would go up to her room and see if she is there,” said Warren, “I fear something is the matter with her.” Minnie ran softly upstairs to her room. She heard someone walking to and fro as if in a hurry. She gently rapped at the door and a trembling voice bid her come in. “You know you are always welcome, Minnie.” Not heeding Nettie’s words Minnie said, “why did you come up here? Warren missed you and sent me to find you. Why, Nettie, where are you going? I see you have been packing your trunk.” ------------------------------------------------------------------------ CHAPTER IV. “I hope you are not going home?” “Yes, cousin, I shall go tomorrow. I wish you would bear the intelligence to your father and mother and entreat them to let Cousin Warren take me to the village in time to take the coach for home tomorrow. I do not care to ask him, as he will question me. Mother will be looking for me in a day or so and I concluded to go tomorrow.” She gave her hand to her cousin, saying: “We will go down to the hall now or the company may think it strange we are both gone.” They went along the corridor as placidly as if nothing had transpired to mar the pleasure of the evening. They came to where Warren stood toying with the tassel of the window curtain and looking out into the moonlight with deeply-troubled thoughts. “Where have you been, you little rogue? we have been looking for you for some time.” “She has been packing her trunk to go home tomorrow morning: I cannot get her to stay any longer,” said Minnie. “What has caused you to make such a quick decision? I supposed you were going to stay with us two or three weeks. Something has offended you I fear, or you would not decide so quickly to go home.” “No, Warren, nothing has happened of any account: please don’t scold me,” said Nettie sorrowfully, as she was nearly overcome with the burden on her mind.