said I, pretending to consider.

"It's about — " said Ada in a whisper. "It's about — my cousin Richard!"

"Well, my own!" said I, kissing her bright hair, which was all I could see. "And what about him?"

"Oh, Esther, you would never guess!"

It was so pretty to have her clinging to me in that way, hiding her face, and to know that she was not crying in sorrow but in a little glow of joy, and pride, and hope, that I would not help her just yet.

"He says — I know it's very foolish, we are both so young — but he says," with a burst of tears, "that he loves me dearly, Esther."