"Revenge!" exclaimed Precious, and Ethel answered:
"You will betray me now to Arthur, to papa and mamma, to the whole world!"
Precious looked searchingly into the dark eyes, circled with heavy purplish rings since morning.
"My sister, do you repent?" she asked solemnly.
"Repent! Ah, Heaven, I should have died or gone mad if harm had come to that little golden head!" breathed Ethel huskily.
"And you will never hate me any more?" sighed Precious.
"Never! never!"
"Then let us speak no more of that wicked thing—revenge. Try to be good after this, dear sister; try to be worthy of Arthur, and I will forgive you everything," noble little Precious answered, sealing the promise of forgiveness with a gentle kiss.
"You are an angel!" sighed Ethel from her overburdened heart, and drew from under her pillow the sealed letter she had sent to Madame La Mode's by the maid.