aware are your brother's feeling concerning you; and seeing you have
neither father nor mother, I feel my responsibility and his the
greater."

"But what is the matter with Lorraine?" Hal cried, growing a little
exasperated. "She is not nearly so frivolous as I am, and works far
harder."

Miss Walton hesitated a little. "We feel she is naturally rather
worldly-minded and ambitious, whereas you -" She paused.

"Whereas I am a simpleton," suggested Hal, with a mischievous light in
her eyes. "Well, then, dear Miss Walton, how fortunate for me that
some one clever and briljant is willing to give me her friendship and
help to lift me out of my slough of simpletondom!"

Miss Walton looked up with a reproof on her lips, but it died away, and
a new expression came into her eyes as she seemed to see something in
this unruly pupil she had not before suspected. Hal still looked as if
a smothered sense of injustice might presently explode into hot words;
but in the meantime the air of dignity stood its ground in spite of
smudges and untidiness.

Neither spoke for a moment, and then Miss Walton remarked: "You do not
mean to be guided by me in this matter?"

"Lorraine is my friend," Hal answered. "I cannot let myself listen to
anything that suggests a slur upon her."

"Not even if your brother expressed a wish on the subject?"