pocket-book, saying: "I will always keep them in memory of the happiest day of my life!" Dainty's heart thrilled with joy at the words; then she shuddered at the thought of how angry Olive and Ela would be because he loved her so well. "Perhaps they will hate me, although I have not done them any wrong. I did not make him love me. It was God put it into his heart. But I can guess how they will sneer and say I was bold and forward, trying to get a rich husband. I wish he were poor—almost as poor as I am—so that I could tell them I love him for himself alone, which is true, though they will pretend never to believe it, in their jealous spite," ran her perturbed thoughts; for she could not get Olive and Ela quite out of her mind. The dread of their spite and anger trailed its venom through her happiness as the hideous viper had trailed across the sunny path, making her cry out that it was evil-omened. Alas! that spite and jealousy were destined to work her as deadly ill as the serpent's fangs. It was this subtle dread tugging at Dainty's heart-strings that made her murmur wistfully, as they retraced their steps: "Let us keep our secret awhile yet, lest Olive and Ela should say I was too easily won." "What do you care for their opinion!" cried her lover, disdainfully. "Oh, but you do not know how cruel they would be, what cutting things they would say to me!" she cried. [41]And he laughed. [41] "Dainty, I believe you are an arrant coward, after all, as your cousin Olive told me this morning." "Did she say so?"—angrily, the blue eyes flashing. "Yes; she said you were the most cowardly girl on earth—afraid of your own shadow—and always in hysterics over something, so that she and Ela were sorry you came, dreading that you would annoy your aunt." "Oh, it is false!" she cried, indignantly. "She only said it to turn your heart against me. And I—I will show her after this whether I am a coward or not!"
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