"I was a silly, stage-struck little goose, that was the reason; but I have been well punished for my ambition," Geraldine replied, frankly. "Then you have no further desire for a stage career?" "No, indeed, dear. My experience on the road quite cured me of that. Why, I was never so hard worked and unhappy in my life. Besides, after all, I don't think I had any great talent for acting. I had some triumphs, it is true, but I believe it was only because I was rather pretty," Geraldine owned, candidly, and then the conversation drifted to other subjects. "You have not seen my little half-brother and sister yet. They are beautiful and charming little children, and love me dearly already," she said. "Their governess, Miss Erroll, is one of the handsomest women I ever saw--fair and stately, and with that look in her face, somehow, as of one who has an interesting story in her past." "And do you know the story?" "Oh, no; she came to mamma from New York, I believe, with very good recommendations. That is all we know; but the children get on well with her, and she seems to study to please every one." They were alone in Cissy's dainty room, lounging at ease in their pretty dressing-gowns. It was bedtime and past, but Geraldine could not tear herself away. "Are you tired of me? Do you want me to go?" she queried. "I could talk to you all night, darling!" cried Cissy, brightly, without guessing to what the confession would lead. But Geraldine came over and put a coaxing arm around her neck. "I'm so glad you aren't tired, for, Cissy, I'm just dying to take up our conversation where we left it off, you know, that Christmas evening when we were parted so suddenly." "Oh!" cried Cissy, remembrance rushing over her in a burning wave. "You were about to tell me a delightful love-story, and I was all impatience to hear it. It was about Cameron Clemens, you know. You owned that he was once your lover. Now please go on with the story, that's a dear!" "Oh, Geraldine, how you like to listen to love-stories!" sighed Miss Carroll, with a far-away look in her soft gray eyes. "Of course. All girls are fond of love-stories!" laughed Geraldine, and she added: "You know all about my love affairs, Cissy; now you must tell me about yours." And she kept up her entreaties until Cissy sighed and yielded, saying: "You don't know how I hate to rake up the ashes of the past, dear, and go over all my trouble again, but I will do it for your sake, although I dare say you will not find it very interesting." "Were you ever engaged to Mr. Clemens, Cissy?" exclaimed Geraldine, plunging at once into the subject. "Yes," acknowledged Cissy. "Tell me how it came about, dear?" "Oh, in the usual way--we fell in love." "But how?--where?--when?" persisted Geraldine, with charming eagerness. CHAPTER XLIII. CISSY'S PATHETIC LOVE STORY.