"So does Louise," returned Miss Elliott, disdain-
ing consistency in her eagerness. "And she's right
— and she cares more for him than she ever did!"

"I suppose she does."

"Are you — " the girl began, then stopped for a
moment, looking at me steadily. "Aren't you a
little in love with her?"

"Yes," I answered honestly. "Aren't you?"

"That's what I wanted to know!" she said; and
as she turned a page in the sketch-book for the
benefit of Mr. Percy, I saw that her hand had
begim to tremble.
"Why?" I asked, leaning toward her across the
table.
304 THE GUEST OF QUESNAY

"Because, if she were involved in some under-
taking — something that, if it went wrong, would
endanger her happiness and, I think, even her
life — ^for it might actually kill her if she failed,
and brought on a worse catastrophe "

"Yes?" I said anxiously, as she paused again.
"You'd help her?" she said.
