“Yes:  I admit every word of it; but all that doesn’t explain your tears,” returned Ella, half sympathizingly, half teasingly.  “Now, I should have supposed that anybody who could boast of such a piece of perfection for a husband would be very happy.”

“But I—­we’ve hardly ever been separated over night,” stammered Zoe, blushing rosy red; “and—­and—­O Ella!  I hadn’t a chance to say good-by to him, and—­and you know accidents so often happen”—­

She broke down with a burst of tears and sobs that quite dismayed her cousin.

“Why, Zoe, I’m afraid you cannot be well,” she said.  “Come, cheer up, and don’t borrow trouble.”

“I’m afraid I’m very silly, and have been making you very uncomfortable,” said Zoe, hastily wiping away her tears, “and it’s a great shame; particularly, considering that you have kindly come on purpose to help me through with a disagreeable task.

“I’ll show you to your room now, if you like,” she added, rising, “and try to behave myself better during the rest of your visit.”

“Apologies are quite uncalled for,” returned Ella lightly, as they went up-stairs together.  “I have always had a good time at Ion, and don’t believe this is going to be an exception to the general rule.  But do you know,” lowering her voice a little, “I don’t propose to spend nearly all my time with that hateful Miss Deane.  I never could bear her.”

“Then, how good it was in you to come!” exclaimed Zoe gratefully.  “But I should never have asked it of you, if I had thought you disliked her as well as I.”

They were now in the room Ella was to occupy, and she was taking off her hat and cloak.  “Oh, never mind!  I was delighted to come anyhow,” she answered gayly, as she threw aside the latter garment, and took possession of an easy-chair beside the open fire.  “To tell you a secret,” she went on laughingly, “I like my cousins Ned and Zoe Travilla immensely, and am always glad of an excuse to pay them a visit.  But that Miss Deane,—­oh! she’s just too sweet for any thing!” making a grimace expressive of disgust and aversion, “and a consummate, incorrigible flirt:  any one of the male sex can be made to serve her turn, from a boy of sixteen to a man of seventy-five.”

“I think you are correct about that,” said Zoe.  “And, do you know, she is forever making covert sneers at my youth; and it’s perfectly exasperating to me.”

“Sour grapes,” laughed Ella.  “I wouldn’t let it vex me in the least:  it’s all to hide her envy of you, because you are really young, and married too.  I know very well she’s dreadfully afraid of being called an old maid.”

“I suspected as much,” Zoe remarked.  “But don’t you think gentlemen are more apt to be pleased with her than ladies?”

“Yes:  they don’t see through her as her own sex do.  And she is handsome, and certainly a brilliant talker.  I’d give a good deal for conversational powers equal to hers.”