Helen lifted her hand with an imploring gesture of dissent.
"Answer me, Helen. Am I not right?"
Helen's head was bent still lower, and she made no attempt to speak. Miss Stuart watched her for a moment in silence, and a slight quiver passed over her face. She came a step nearer, and laid her hand on the girl's shoulder:
"Who has influenced you against me, Helen? What has happened?"
"Why, Lillian, what makes you say that? It is not fair, simply because in one instance I am unable to fulfill your wishes."
Miss Stuart withdrew her hand, and her brow darkened.
"Helen, Helen; you disappoint me. Let us have the truth at all hazards. Tell me frankly, would not your answer always be the same now, whenever I might ask you for a visit?"
Helen shivered a little, and she could not bring herself to meet the girl's eyes. Presently Miss Stuart spoke again, the effort to subdue all emotion rendering her voice cold and stern.
"I understand. You have withdrawn your friendship from me. Oh! no doubt you have discovered the depth of my unworthiness, and feel perfectly justified. Content in your own moral superiority, and in that of your friends in general, you have decided that it would be wiser to banish me from the inner circle. Of course," she went on with a bitter laugh, "you have not reached this conclusion alone. Would you mind telling me who has helped you to it?"
The taunting question stung Helen into a response: