the peaches into it myself; it will take but a moment, and it's too
precious a relic to trust to any other hands than my own."

Lottie was apparently in the gayest spirits, enlivening the little
party with many a merry jest and light, silvery laugh, enjoying the
good things before her, and gratifying her hostess with praises of
their excellence. Yet through it all she was furtively watching her
friends, and grieved to notice the unwonted paleness of her cheek, the
traces of tears about her eyes, that her cheerfulness was assumed,
and that if she ate anything it was only from a desire to please her
father, who seemed never to forget her for a moment, and to be a good
deal troubled at her want of appetite. In all these signs Lottie read
disappointment of Egerton's hopes, and of Elsie's, so far as he was
concerned.

"So I suppose her father has commanded her to give him up," she said
to herself. "Poor thing! I wonder if she means to be as submissive as
she thought she would."

The two presently slipped away together into the garden, leaving the
gentlemen conversing in the sitting-room, and Miss Stanhope busied
with some household care.

"You poor dear, I am so sorry for you!" whispered Lottie, putting her
arm about her friend. "Must you really quite give him up?"

"Papa says so," murmured Elsie, vainly struggling to restrain her
tears.

"Is it that he believes Mr. Travilla was not mistaken?"