"No, no!" she answered, with quickness; and then approaching her cousin's ear, she pronounced, very mysteriously, the very homely monosyllable,
"Mark!"
"That proud boy! He become the bearer of a message to Lester!" she exclaimed, looking at her with surprise.
"For me he will!" replied Grace, confidently.
"Two such spirits to come in contact! No, no! Have you forgotten how they parted to-day?"
"No."
"Then why do you propose so wild a scheme?"
"Mark will do as I bid him," she said, with a naïve and pertinaciousness that was wholly irresistible.
Kate burst into such a merry, musical peal of laughter, that at first the maiden looked very grave, but at length found it in vain to withhold her sympathy, and laughed with her; while the rich blood mounted to her cheeks, and invested her with surpassing beauty.
"Oh, oh!" cried Kate, triumphantly, "so you are a very little in love! I half guessed it! Doubtless there is blood enough in thy noble veins for both of you."