"She said that," Anne admitted, drily.

"You've not noticed anything between him and Cherry?" pursued the
doctor. "A girl might call a man by his name, I suppose--"

"I don't think there has been anything to notice," Anne stated, in
a level tone.

"You don't?" the doctor echoed, in relief, peering at her. She
could meet his look with a smile, but in her heart were the same
thoughts that Cherry had been innocently indulging, under the rose
vine an hour ago, and the dream that had been Heaven to Cherry was
Purgatory to Anne. Cherry married, Cherry receiving cups and
presents and gowns, Cherry, Mrs. Lloyd, with a plain gold ring on
her young, childish hand, Cherry able to patronize and chaperone
Alix and Anne--! "I half fancied that it might be you, Anne," her
uncle added, "although I know what a sensible little head you
have!" "I'm afraid I'm a trifle exacting where men are concerned!"
Anne said, understanding perfectly that her pride was being
shielded, but hurt to the heart, nevertheless.

"Well, it must be stopped, if it has begun," decided her uncle. "I
can't permit it--I'd forgotten how the little witch grows!"

"He isn't as eligible for Cherry as for me, then?" Anne asked
lightly. But her smile disarmed the unsuspicious old man, and he
answered honestly:

"You're quite different, Anne. You were older at eighteen than
she'll be at twenty-four; you could hold your own--you could, in a