port on a tray. When she saw the situation, she put the things
down and had the nastiness to stay and listen.

"I'm not blind," Aunt Selina said, with one eye on the tray. "You
two silly children adore each other; I saw some things last
night."

Bella took a step forward; then she stopped and shrugged her
shoulders. Jim was purple.

"I saw you kiss her in the dining room, remember that!" Aunt
Selina went on, giving the screw another turn.

It was Bella's turn to be excited. She gave me one awful stare,
then she fixed her eyes on Jim.

"Besides," Aunt Selina went on, "you told me today that you loved
her. Don't deny it, James."

Bella couldn't keep quiet another instant. She came over and
stood at the foot of the bed.

"Please don't excite yourself, DEAR Miss Caruthers," she said in
a voice like ice. "Every one knows that he loves her; he simply
overflows with it. It--it is quite a by-word among their friends.
They have been sitting together in a corner all evening."

Yes, that was what she said; when I had not spoken to Jimmy the
whole time in the den. Bella was cattish, and she was jealous,
too. I turned on my heel and went to the door; then I turned to