Yes, she admitted to herself that Fred's society was much more agreeable to her than that of any of the other boys--but why? Well, she began to suspect the cause, and if you had been her trusted friend, the one to whom she told her secrets--if she ever did so foolish a thing--she might have said in confidence that--well, never mind what she would have said, for being yet but a girl of sixteen she could only have called him a _friend_. "Good evening, Fred. I am very glad to see you," said Nellie, as she opened the door and he stepped in. "I am glad to hear you say so, and I am sure this is an unexpected pleasure to me," replied Fred, taking her proffered hand, which he retained longer than perhaps was really necessary. "I hope, then, you will not find the call a stupid one." "Oh, I have no fear of that." "You must not be too sure, Fred, for father has just been summoned to attend a patient, and mother has a caller, so you will have to put up with my entertainment for a while," replied Nellie, showing him into the library. "That will be most agreeable to me," returned Fred, taking a seat not far from his hostess. "I shall try and not offend you, for you are such a stranger." "Yes, it seems an age since I have seen you, Nellie," replied our young friend in a way that convinced her he meant every word he said. "Has it, really?" "It has, indeed." "I was afraid you had almost forgotten me." "Oh, no; I could not do that easily." "Well, Fred, I am sure the time could not have seemed longer to you than it has to me," replied Nellie, after a pause, and dropping her eyes as she realized the expression she had thrown into the remark. Fred's heart beat quicker. "Have you really missed me?" he asked, feeling happier than he had for weeks. "If you doubt what I say, how can I convince you?" "No, no, I don't doubt you now, Nellie." "Why do you say now? Have you ever doubted my word?" "No, I did not mean that." "I hope you will explain, so I shall not feel uncomfortable." Fred hesitated, hardly knowing how to reply. "Nellie, it seems like the old days to meet you again," he finally answered, "and I shrink from thinking of the past weeks when I could hardly help doubting nearly every one's friendship." "I am so sorry for you, and I hope you will forgive me for not being more friendly," replied Nellie tenderly. "I forgive you cheerfully, though I did feel hurt at the time." "I saw that only too plainly by your letter, which brought me to my senses; but it was unkind in me to do as I did." "No, not exactly unkind, as nearly every one supposed me guilty." "But I ought not to have been so hasty, for there are always two sides to a question, and I did not wait to hear yours." "You have not heard it yet, and still you overlook the charge made against me." "Of course I do." "But it has never been explained away." "Oh, that was not what troubled me, but--well, nothing ought to have troubled me," answered Nellie, slightly confused.