“Oh! never say you are glad of that!” cried Sophy, earnestly, “when it made me so unhappy.”
“Not glad on some accounts, certainly,” said Archie, “not that you should have met with misfortune, but only because you think more of old friends here than there.”
“True! real friends are the same everywhere,” said Sophy, not exactly knowing what to say.
“Sometimes—not always,” replied Archie, significantly. “But if friends bring bad news, are they less welcome?”
“I don’t believe you have any bad news to tell me this afternoon,” said Sophy. “You look very well pleased.”
“Oh! it is not disagreeable news to me, but perhaps it may be to you,” said Archie, smiling.
“Let me hear it, then,” said Sophy, “or maybe I can guess it. Mr. Wilson has sold the old place.”
“Yes, the old place has changed hands again, and I think for the better; but that is not the news I mean.”
“Do tell me, then,” said Sophy, impatiently, “for I cannot guess.”
“Perhaps,” said Archie, suddenly becoming grave, “it may make you sorry; and if so, I had rather not be the one to tell it; but—Philip Greyson is married.”