good to her, and now is the time to begin,--this very minute, when Agnes
is planning what hateful thing she can do next."

Fired by this thought, Tilly sprang to her feet, and, casting a glance
of scorn and contempt at Agnes, slipped her hand over Peggy's arm and
said,--

"Come, Peggy, let's go over to the other end of the piazza and walk up
and down; it's much pleasanter there."

Warm-hearted Tilly's intentions were excellent; but her look of
contempt, her meaning words, instead of cowing and controlling Agnes,
only roused her to deeper anger, which resulted in an action that
probably had not been premeditated even by her jealous and bitter
spirit. Tilly will never forget that action. It was just as she was
turning away with Peggy, when she saw that angry face barring her way,
when she heard those ominous words, "Miss Smithson," and then--and then
that outstretched hand thrusting forth to Peggy that fluttering,
dreadful slip of paper!




CHAPTER V.


But another hand than Peggy's snatched at the fluttering paper. "What is
it, what does it mean?" demanded Peggy, as a gusty breeze tore the paper
from Tilly's trembling fingers.