As Leonora said these last words, she could but just hear the voices of her companions; they had left her alone in the gallery.  She knocked softly at Louisa’s door——­“Come in,” said Louisa.  “I in not asleep.  Oh,” said she, starting up with the Flora in her hand, the instant that the door was opened.  “I’m so glad you are come, Leonora, for I did so long to hear what you were all making such a noise about—­have you forgot that the bracelet——­”

“O yes! is this the evening?”

“Well, here’s my white shell for you.  I’ve kept it in my pocket this fortnight; and though Cecilia did give me this Flora, I still love you a great deal better.”

“I thank you, Louisa,” said Leonora, gratefully.  “I will take your shell, and I shall value it as long as I live.  But here is a red one, and if you wish to show me that you love me, you will give this to Cecilia.  I know that she is particularly anxious for your preference, and I am sure that she deserves it.”

“Yes, if I could I would choose both of you; but you know I can only choose which I like the best.”

“If you mean, my dear Louisa,” said Leonora, “that you like me the best, I am very much obliged to you; for, indeed I wish you to love me; but it is enough for me to know it in private.  I should not feel the least more pleasure at hearing it in public, or in having it made known to all my companions, especially at a time when it would give poor Cecilia a great deal of pain.”

“But why should it give her pain?  I don’t like her for being jealous of you.”

“Nay, Louisa, surely you don’t think Cecilia jealous; she only tries to excel and to please.  She is more anxious to succeed than I am, it is true, because she has a great deal more activity, and perhaps more ambition; and it would really mortify her to lose this prize.  You know that she proposed it herself; it has been her object for this month past, and I am sure she has taken great pains to obtain it.”

“But, dear Leonora, why should you lose it?”

“Indeed, my dear, it would be no loss to me; and, if it were, I would willingly suffer it for Cecilia; for, though we seem not to be such good friends as we used to be, I love her very much, and she will love me again, I’m sure she will; when she no longer fears me as a rival, she will again love me as a friend.”

Here Leonora heard a number of her companions running along the gallery.  They all knocked hastily at the door, calling, “Leonora!  Leonora! will you never come?  Cecilia has been with us this half hour.”

Leonora smiled.  “Well, Louisa,” said she, smiling, “will you promise me?”

“O, I’m sure, by the way they speak to you, that they won’t give you the prize!” said the little Louisa; and the tears started into her eyes.

“They love me though, for all that; and as for the prize, you know whom I wish to have it.”

“Leonora!  Leonora!” called her impatient companions; “don’t you hear us?  What are you about?”