"
"Trying what?" wondered Hope, and said vaguely, "The two cases are
scarcely similar."
"Perhaps not, but how could you consistently call me weak to yield to
wine, if you are to be helpful and kind one minute, and scornful the
next? You said you would help me to win over Miss Faith, and I thought
you also tacitly promised me help in another way. Are you going back
on everything, now?"
"No, indeed!" cried Hope, fully comprehending at last. ("So he talked
Faith over, thinking it was I--and she let him think so--sly puss! I
didn't believe it was in her!") Then aloud, "I will do what I can, of
course, but Faith, though seeming so gentle, has a strain of
obstinacy--"
"Yes, you hinted at that before."
("Indeed!" laughed the girl inside, "how well she did it!")
"But she is so fond of you, and I long to be friends with both."
"Yes?" interpolated Hope, with an indifferent accent.
"Yes," strongly; "but if I can't have her friendship, I still plead for
yours. You can help me--you have helped me already."
"But if she won't listen to me?" queried the girl, keeping her amused
eyes lowered.
"Then give it up, and I will bear her displeasure; but don't double it
by adding your own."
"Then, possibly, I had better not say anything--"
"And keep the matter to ourselves?" eagerly.
"Why, y-yes, for the present, at least."
"All right! I'm willing. Only you'll ignore me when she's by, I'm
afraid."
Hope turned suddenly away, almost unable to control her laughter.
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