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STRAIT IS THE GATE 140

cried Alissa at last, impatient at the tactless manner in which the excellent woman tried to efface herself. “Yes, yes! my dears. I quite understand. When young people haven't seen each other for a long time, they always have lots of little things to tell each other.” "Please, Aunt! You really will annoy us if you go away!” and this was said in a tone which was almost angry, and in which I hardly recognised Alissa's voice . “Aunt! I assure you that if you go away, we shan't utter a single other word!” added I, laughing, but myself filled with a certain apprehension at the idea of our being left alone. And then, with sham cheerfulness, we all three set to work to make conversation, trying to hide our embarrassment beneath the forced liveliness of our commonplace talk. We were to meet again the next day, as my uncle had invited me to lunch, so that we parted that evening without regret, glad to put an end to this absurd scene. I arrived long before luncheon-time, but I found Alissa talking to a girl friend, whom she had not the strength of mind to send away, and who was not discreet enough to go. When at last she left us, I pretended to be surprised that Alissa had

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