He camo in gently, for as be opened the door he saw that Agnes was on my lap fast asleep, looking very white amid the sur rounding b ackness, but pretty and pathetic as a little child asleep always is to my mind. He came over to the window where we sat, and softly pulled out one of the heavy leather-coloured chairs for himself, and, sitting down, looked at my little sister with a tender smile on his fac^. ' Poor little dot!' ho sai 1 gentlv. ' Think of all that is on those small shoulders now.' ♦ She will be well cared for,' I answered, somewhat jealously, putting my hand more closely round the white pinafored form. ' Oh, yes ! ' he rejoined cheerfully. ' Mrs Dare will take right good care of her; you are in luck, little woman;' and he gently stroked the round baby arm. ' Mrs Dare !' I exclaimed indignantlv. * I am glad my little girl has somebody nearer to her than that.' Mr Ayreton looked nt me curiously For a moment, and then he said with some hesita tion—. ~ •Miss Forster, I am going away tnis evening. I wish you would let me sav something to you that has be«-n on my mind for a long time. You won't think it imper tinent ? ' , , _. ' Well ? ' I said ungraciously, for 1 had a suspicion of what was coining;. ' We have been so much together the past week or two,' ho said nervously, * and I hope we have been friends, and you won t take it amiss if I tell JXhat you don t do Mrs Dare justice !' My fnce expressed my sentiments very clearly, I mppos*, for he continued— ' You don't un lorstand her, indeed I 1 can't help wishing you knew her as well as I do and could pull better with her, for indeed she means very kindly towards you. Thore --now T have made you angry! Well, I oouidn't help siying it You see I like you. both so' muchi and—don't cry, M'S* Forster: —rileaso don't ery ! ' .■•■ At that moment Mrs dare herself came into the room, looking very handsome and imposing in her weeds. 