I fancied I should be your favourite, and hold the first place; and when I saw her, I would not see her grace and gentleness, or observe her soft sweet voice, and the charms that put my figure and complexion to shame, and the quiet sense and truth that were worth twelvefold my quickness, my memory, and my handiness.

I was disappointed and mortified that she should be preferred.

Oh, how you must hate me, Clasfempta; for I hate myself while I tell you what I have been!" According to European doctrine, my fealty to Eveena must then have been in peril.

And yet, warmly as I felt for Eunane, the element in her passionate confession that touched me most was her recognition of Eveena's superiority; and as I soothed and comforted the half-childish penitent, I thought how much it would please Eveena that I had at last come to an understanding with the companion she avowedly liked the best.
"But, Eunane," I said at last, "do you remember what you were saying when I called you--called you on purpose to stop you?
You said that there was something between Eveena and myself more than---more than what?
What did you mean?
Speak frankly, child; I know that this time you were not going to scald me on purpose." "I don't know quite what I meant," she replied simply.

"But the first time you took me out, I heard the superintendent say some strange things; and then he checked himself when he found your companion was not Eveena.