Ada threw down her novel, and, springing up, caught her friend to her heart. “I wish you joy, Eva! You will have a splendid husband. I almost envy you,” she declared, with a stifled sigh. “You need not envy a queen. You will have Doctor Ludington,” Eva cried, with bitter emphasis. “Nonsense! He cares nothing about me, Eva.” “It looks like it, Ada, when he has called on you and taken you out every day since you came.” “That is only ten days, dear.” “I know it; but if it were fifty it would have been the same. He is madly in love with you, Ada, and has forgotten that he ever loved poor little me!” cried Eva, in a voice that betrayed all the bitterness of a wounded heart. And as Ada hesitated for an answer, she continued in a different tone: “But I will show him that I do not care, that I can love another as well as he! Reggie is a better match, anyway. I will be married to him directly and go away to Europe on my bridal tour. We have planned it all out this evening, since I reconsidered my rejection and told him I would try to love him as dearly as he loves me. Oh, Ada, you cannot think how happy I have made the dear boy by my promise. After all, he is very lovable!” “He is perfectly charming! Indeed, I envy you, darling,” exclaimed Ada frankly, while Eva responded with sudden recklessness: “And I envy you, Ada, and wish we could make a fair exchange of lovers! Oh, what nonsense I am talking! Reggie is the dearest old darling in the world, and I want you to tell Doctor Ludington you heard me say so. Tell him, too, that I felt I never really loved before. Will you, Ada?” “If you wish me to, dear. But I am afraid that it is not the truth, although to my mind Mr. Hamilton is actually adorable!” “Oh, yes, he is all that is charming, I know; and he has been in love with me for years--for years, Ada; ever since papa first brought me home, a shy little country girl, ignorant of city ways and untrained in everything. But I have improved, haven’t I, dear?” “You were always adorable, dear Eva. Then you were like the sweet, wild rose; now you are like the cultivated flower. But tell me now when the wedding is to be.” “Reggie has coaxed for a short engagement--to get ready in three weeks and sail with a delightful party of our friends who are going at that time. Not that I want to shorten your visit, darling Ada. You are to accompany me as my guest, if you will, and we both wish it. Reggie admires you very much, you see. Will you accept our invitation, Ada?” “I--I don’t know just yet, Eva. Give me time to think it over. This is so very sudden, you see,” the beautiful brunette answered with paling cheeks and a throbbing heart. She spoke truly when she assured her friend that she envied her, for the first sight of Reginald Hamilton had inspired in her that sweet emotion known as love at first sight.