Chapter 8 - Page 2

as that with us; indeed, since he declared what he felt he
has only been able to snatch a few words with me when I have been
skating or walking. But there has always been at least one word
or look that meant a great deal.

"And now, who do you think he is? He says he knows you. Can you
guess? He says you know all his secrets. He says he knows your
husband well; that he treated you very badly, and that you are
greatly to be pitied. Can you guess now? He says he has kissed
you--for shame, Hetty! Have you guessed yet? He was going to tell
me something more when we were interrupted, and I have not seen
him since except at a distance. He is the man with whom you
eloped that day when you gave us all such a fright--Mr. Sidney. I
was the first to penetrate his disguise; and that very morning I
had taxed him with it, and he had confessed it. He said then that
he was hiding from a woman who was in love with him; and I should
not be surprised if it turned out to be true; for he is
wonderfully original--in fact what makes me like him is that he
is by far the cleverest man I have ever met; and yet he thinks
nothing of himself. I cannot imagine what he sees in me to care
for, though he is evidently ensnared by my charms. I hope he
won't find out how silly I am. He called me his golden idol--"

Henrietta, with a scream of rage, tore the letter across, and
stamped upon it. When the paroxysm subsided she picked up the
pieces, held them together as accurately as her trembling hands
could, and read on.

"--but he is not all honey, and will say the most severe things
sometimes if he thinks he ought to. He has made me so ashamed of
my ignorance that I am resolved to stay here for another term at
least, and study as hard as I can. I have not begun yet, as it is
not worth while at the eleventh hour of this term; but when I
return in January I will set to work in earnest. So you may see
that his influence over me is an entirely good one. I will tell
you all about him when we meet; for I have no time to say
anything now, as the girls are bothering me to go skating with
them. He pretends to be a workman, and puts on our skates for us;
and Jane Carpenter believes that he is in love with her. Jane is
exceedingly kindhearted; but she has a talent for making herself
ridiculous that nothing can suppress. The ice is lovely, and the
weather jolly; we do not mind the cold in the least. They are
threatening to go without me--good-bye!

"Ever your affectionate

"Agatha."

Henrietta looked round for something sharp. She grasped a pair of
scissors greedily and stabbed the air with them. Then she became
conscious of her murderous impulse, and she shuddered at it; but
in a moment more her