Confidential Moments

    up to  nig appeared t s all inclined to undress. S doable t presented itself, and began to inctive vent of strong excitement.  feveris tension of t to accompany mental absorption. hing remarkable happened?

    Not you are not likely to consider in t degree unimportant. S t eur fas your critical ear muco desire. And s a great deal in rative manner from beneatal eyebro seemed someo  tory influence of tible effect on a ted young lady ly balanced mind, une, training and refined society. But if Maggie  young lady, you  it could ten; for t  nations, ory.

    In poor Maggies rung, ure - just come ae scs jarring sounds and petty round of tasks - tly trivial causes  of rousing and exalting ion in a  erious to   t s distinctly of Mr Step or d on tions t  ion; it  s te presence of a y and deligry and romance so time ion, ience  t condition seemed irrecoverably gone, and s. No prayer, no striving no negative peace: ttle of  seemed,  to be decided in t s and easy  renunciation at ting in ill - Purcells music s ay in tion of t bare lonely past. Ser a?rial le tap came at t was ered in ample we dressing-gown.

    `y c you begun to undress? said Lucy, in astonis. `I promised not to come and talk to you, because I t you must be tired. But o dress for a ball. Come, come, get on your dressing-go your hair.

    `ell, you are not very fororted Maggie, ily reacton go Lucys light brown hair brushed back in curly disorder.

    `O I  muco do. I s doalk to you, till I see you are really on to bed.

    ood and unplaited  dooilette table, cionate eyes, and tle aside, like a pretty spaniel. If it appears to you at all incredible t young ladies so talk confidentially in a situation of to remember t ional cases.

    `You really onig you, Maggie?

    `O yes, t is s me from feeling sleepy. I tal s, if I could al seems to infuse strengto my limbs and ideas into my brain. Life seems to go on  effort, imes one is conscious of carrying a .

    `And Step he?

    `ell, per, said Maggie, lauged ossed  impartial, and I think any barrel organ splendid.

    `But tell me ell me exactly - good and bad too.

    `O I te tle. A lover s be so muc ease and so self-confident.  to tremble more.

    `Nonsense, Maggie! As if any one could tremble at me!You ted - I see t. But you dont dislike him, do you?

    `Dislike  of seeing suc I s to please? Besides  promised to make you hing! Maggie pinched Lucys dimpled chin.

    `e somorrow evening, said Lucy, looking eph him.

    `O Lucy, I cant see urning pale. `At least, I could not see  toms leave.

    `Is tom sucyrant as t? said Lucy, surprised. `Ill take ty tell  .

    `But, dear, said Maggie, faltering, `I promised tom very solemnly - before my fat speak to P . And I  dread of opening t om - of getting into a quarrel h him again.

    `But I never range and unreasonable.  o tom about it?

    `O no, pray dont, dear, said Maggie. `Ill go to omorroell  you  before of asking o absolve me from my promise, but Ive not o determine on it.

    t for some moments, and then Lucy said,

    `Maggie, you s from me, and I have none from you.

    Maggie looked meditatively aurned to o tell you about P, Lucy, you must not betray t you kno to any one - least of all to Po Mr Step.

    tive lasted long, for Maggie pouring: sold Lucy anyt life; and t face bent toerest, and ttle o speak on. On ts only s expansive. S betray fully ill rankled in oms great offence - ts ill made  bear t any one else s all - botoms sake and P bear to tell Lucy of t scene bet to be a ne som  in regarding any prospect of love and marriage bet of tion by tion of two families. Of course P.

    `tory, said Maggie, smiling ears in her eyes. `You see I am like Sir Andrew Ague-cheek - I was adored once.

    `A is you knoc before - part of your general uncanniness, said Lucy.

    Stle  Maggie, `It is very beautiful t you s suc not to give acles no time.

    Maggie shook her head.

    `Yes, yes, persisted Lucy. `I cant  it. tic in it - out of t  o you ougo be. And Pale. O I so contrive some plot t o t mind - so t you may marry P t be a pretty ending to all my poor, poor Maggies troubles?

    Maggie tried to smile, but s a sudden chill.

    `A go to bed; and so must I. I dare not t time it is.

    t ao be ot confidences are sometimes blinding even whey are sincere.