"Bessy," said the elder girl, "I am dying to be alone with you for a
moment."

"Well, you shall not die; that is, if being alone with me will save
you."

"I have so much to say to you. And if you have any true friendship
in you, you also will have so much to say to me."

Miss Garrow perhaps had no true friendship in her at that moment,
for she would gladly have avoided saying anything, had that been
possible. But in order to prove that she was not deficient in
friendship, she gave her friend her hand.

"And now tell me everything about Godfrey," said Isabella.

"Dear Bella, I have nothing to tell;--literally nothing."

"That is nonsense. Stop a moment, dear, and understand that I do
not mean to offend you. It cannot be that you have nothing to tell,
if you choose to tell it. You are not the girl to have accepted
Godfrey without loving him, nor is he the man to have asked you
without loving you. When you write me word that you have changed
your mind, as you might about a dress, of course I know you have not
told me all. Now I insist upon knowing it,--that is, if we are to
be friends. I would not speak a word to Godfrey till I had seen
you, in order that I might hear your story first."

"Indeed, Bella, there is no story to tell."