nearly an hour to dispose of before tea-time, Elsie thought she
would finish a drawing which she had left in her desk in the
school-room. While searching for it and her pencil, she heard
Lora's and Arthur's voices on the veranda.

She did not notice what they were saying, until her own name
struck her ear.

"Elsie is the only person," Lora was saying, "who can, and
probably will, help you; for she has plenty of money, and she is
so kind and generous; but, if I were you, I should be ashamed to
ask her, after the way you acted toward her."

"I wish I hadn't teased her so yesterday," replied Arthur,
disconsolately, "but it's such fun, I can't help it sometimes."

"Well, I know I wouldn't ask a favor of anybody I had treated so,"
said Lora, walking away.

Elsie sat still a few moments, working at her drawing and
wondering all the time what it was Arthur wanted, and thinking how
glad she would be of an opportunity of returning him good for
evil. She did not like, though, to seek his confidence, but
presently hearing him heave a deep sigh, she rose and went out on
the veranda.

He was leaning on the railing in an attitude of dejection, his
head bent down and his eyes fixed on the floor. She went up to
him, and laying her hand softly on his shoulder, said, in the
sweet, gentle tones natural to her. "What ails you, Arthur? Can I