"I do not know whether to be ashamed or proud," she said, frankly. "Gerald Huntington seemed to think I had taken an unfair advantage of him. But to tell the truth, I have brooded so much and so ardently over his capture that I was wild with delight at the idea of its possibility. I forgot gratitude and everything else in the moment when I frantically clutched him--forgot everything but the offered reward." "I did not know you were so mercenary, Lina," said Miss Earle, laughing. Jaquelina looked abashed for a moment, then she answered, without looking up, and almost pleadingly: "You see, Violet, I needed two hundred dollars so very, very much." "For what?" said careless, thoughtless Walter. "To buy a silk dress, or a watch, or a pair of diamond earrings?" "Neither," she answered, half vexed, half smiling. "I wanted it to buy an education." Walter and Violet laughed. Valchester looked surprised a moment, then smiled a smile of sweet approval. "I thought you were--educated," said Walter. She was about to reply when Mrs. Meredith's shrill, peculiar call was heard from the house: "Jack-we-li-ner! Jack-we-li-ner!" Jaquelina's face faded in a frown of shame and annoyance. She rose, with a hurried excuse, and, promising to return, went to the house. "Aunt Meredith, I have company," she said, a little impatiently, to the red-faced, cross-looking woman in the doorway. "Where?" asked Mrs. Meredith, looking around, bewildered. "Out in the orchard--Miss Violet Earle, with her brother and his friend," said Jaquelina. "I should like to go back if you can spare me." "I _can't_ spare you. I want you to tend Dollie while I run over to Mrs. Brown's on a matter of business," Mrs. Meredith said sharply. "Can I take Dollie to the orchard with me? It is very warm and sunny there," said Jaquelina, timidly. "Yes, take her if you choose--I don't care," said her aunt, as she slipped on her sunbonnet and hurried off to a gossiping neighbor's. CHAPTER IX. Jaquelina took the heavy child in her arms and went slowly back to the orchard. "That inevitable Dollie," said Violet, warmly, as she saw her coming. "It's a shame that Mrs. Meredith does not hire a nurse for that great, fat child! I am sure if I were Jaquelina I would not be forced to carry it round." "It _is_ a shame," echoed Walter. "She is so slender she almost staggers beneath its weight." But it never occurred to him to go and relieve her of the burden. It would have seemed superlatively ridiculous for him, the gay, handsome young dandy, to have carried chubby little Dollie Meredith up the hill, even to save a pretty girl's arms from aching. He was surprised and vexed when Ronald Valchester rose and sauntered down the grassy orchard slope to meet Jaquelina. "What is Valchester up to now?" he said, gnawing the ends of his fair mustache, jealously. "Miss Meredith," said Valchester, with quiet courtesy, "allow me to carry the child for you. You are not strong enough for such a burden."