"You mean because he has a title? You can't think of any other reason."
"Oh, of course I don't, my Archdale champion. How strange that you trust me so little, Elizabeth!"
"Trust you so little, Katie? Why, if any other girl did as you are doing, I should say she was playing false with her betrothed, and meant to throw him over. I never imagine such a thing of you. I only feel that you are very cruel to Lord Bulchester."
Katie cast down her eyes for a moment. "Some things are beyond our control," she answered.
"Not things like these," said Elizabeth. "Since you have suffered yourself, I don't understand why you want to make other people suffer."
"Don't you?" returned the girl. "That's just the reason, I suppose. Why should I be alone? But I shall be done with playing by and by, Elizabeth."
"Yes, I know, Katie," the girl answered. "I trust you."
Again Katie looked down for a moment, looked up again, this time into the face of her friend, and sighed lightly. "Don't think me better than I am, Betsey," she implored, the dimples about her mouth effectually counteracting the pathos of her tones. And at the words she put up her lips with a childlike air to her companion. Elizabeth's arms folded impulsively about her, and held her for a moment in an embrace that seemed at once to guard, and caress, and brood over her. Then she drew away, and sat beside her with a quietness that seemed like a wish to make her sudden evidence of strong feeling forgotten.
"Betsey, my dear," said Katie softly, "you're so good. I have seemed different to you sometimes. You must not expect me to be like you."
"I should not have done half so well," said Elizabeth hastily.