‘Fine confidence you shew in your chosen friend!’ said Elizabeth.

‘Why, one must be civil; and Harriet is a sort of cousin,’ said Katherine; ’but I am sure she is not half so much my friend as Willie.’

‘Well, never mind defending your taste in friends,’ said Elizabeth; ’for as I do think your scruple worth answering, I will tell you that I had thought of the same thing; but I do not choose to do evil that good may come, or that evil may not come.  I shall tell Papa what an excellent opinion you have of Harriet, and leave him to do as he pleases.’

Elizabeth’s hand was on the lock of the door of her father’s study, when Katherine exclaimed, ‘There is someone there—­I hear voices!’

‘Uncle Edward,’ said Elizabeth.  ’I do not mind his being there; we ought to beg his pardon for leading Anne astray.’

‘Oh! but do not you see,’ said Katherine, ’here are a hat and a roll of papers on the table!  Mr. Roberts must be come.’

‘Tiresome man!’ cried Elizabeth; ’he will be there all day, and I shall not see Papa I do not know when.  It really was a very convenient thing when the architects of the old German cathedrals used to take a desperate leap from the top of the tower as soon as it was finished.  Well, I must find Mamma now.’

‘Cannot you wait till the evening, when you may see Papa?’ said Katherine, hoping to put off the evil day.

‘I cannot have this upon my mind all day unconfessed,’ said Elizabeth; ’besides, Harriet will pester me with entreaties as long as it is untold.  Come, Kitty, do not be such a coward.’

‘I am sure I do not want you not to tell,’ said Katherine, looking rather miserable; ’only I am not in such a hurry about it as you are.  You do not know where Mamma is.’

‘No, but I will find her,’ said Elizabeth.

The sisters set off on the chase; they looked into the drawing-room, the dining-room, Mrs. Woodbourne’s room, without success; they ran up to the nursery, but she was not there; and they were going down again, when Katherine, seeing Elizabeth go towards the kitchen stairs, exclaimed, ’Well, I will go no further; it is so ridiculous, as if it was a matter of life and death!  You may call if you want me.’

Katherine retreated into her own room, and Elizabeth ran down to the kitchen, where she found Mrs. Woodbourne ordering dinner.

Elizabeth stood by the fire, biting her lip and pinching her finger, and trembling all over with impatience, while Mrs. Woodbourne and the cook were busily consulting over some grouse which Rupert had brought from Scotland.

‘Lizzie, my dear,’ said Mrs. Woodbourne presently, ’would you just run to my room and fetch down the green receipt-book?’

Elizabeth obeyed:  running was rather a relief to her, and she was down-stairs again in another instant.

‘Why, Lizzie,’ said Mrs. Woodbourne, with a smile, ’you must be wild to-day; you have brought me the account-book instead of—­But, my dear child, what is the matter?’ said she, perceiving that Elizabeth’s face was scarlet, and her eyes full of tears.