"Indeed!" answered he, concernedly. "How's that?"
"I promised mother not to tell anybody," I replied; "but I can't help it—I must tell some one, for I don't know what to do."
"Yes, tell me," he repeated.
"Do you remember that ball you gave here at the Manor last spring?" asked I.
"Ah, yes, I remember," answered he, I thought sadly.
"Well, Joyce was engaged to Captain Forrester that night," said I.
I saw his face grow stern as it had grown when he had warned me about Frank at first.
"Mother didn't like it, she—she wanted something else for Joyce," I went on, evasively, not caring to let the squire think that mother had noticed his liking for my sister—"she said they must wait for a year. Yes, and not meet all the time, and not write to one another. But it's not possible that two people who care for one another can go on like that. Is it, now?" cried I, eagerly.
"Yes, it would be possible if they really cared for one another, Miss Margaret," he said, presently; "but it would be hard."