And, mother, I am very happy and very grateful and very proud that you are going to stand by me--and by the loveliest girl in all the world." That night Lily came to his room.

Her eyes were red, but there was fire in them.

She seated herself and surveyed her brother with ominous self-possession.
"Well, Lily," he said pleasantly, prepared to keep his temper at all hazards.
"Well, Louis, I understand from mother that you have some questions to ask me." "No questions, little sister; only your sympathetic attention while I tell you how matters stand with me." "You require too much!" she said shortly.
"If I ask for your sympathy ?" "Not if you ask it for yourself, Louis.

But if you include that--" "Please, dear!" he interrupted, checking her with a slight gesture--for an instant only; then she went on in a determined voice: "Louis, I might as well tell you at once that I have no sympathy for her.

I wrote to her, out of sheer kindness, for her own good--and she replied so insolently that--that I am not yet perfectly recovered--" "What did you write ?" Mrs.Collis remained disdainfully silent, but her eyes sparkled.
"Won't you tell me," he asked, patiently, "what it was you wrote to Valerie West ?" "Yes, I'll tell you if you insist on knowing!--even if you do misconstrue it! I wrote to her--for her own sake--and to avoid ill-natured comment,--suggesting that she be seen less frequently with you in public.