"Mary always avoids Mr.Ferrars when it is possible to do so, and I have never once seen her touch his hand, though she shakes hands with every other person she meets.

I have even seen her shake hands with Oily Dave, a thing I would not do myself." "Am I to understand, then, that if one person will not shake hands with another it is a sign of being in love ?" asked Katherine in a teasing tone.

"Because, if so, what about your own refusal to touch the hand of Oily Dave ?" Mrs.Burton laughed, and her heart felt lighter than for many days past; for if Katherine could laugh and make jokes in this fashion, it was plain there was no harm done.

So she drew a long breath and went on: "I wish you would try to be serious for a few minutes and listen to me.

What is only fun to you may be grim earnest to poor Mary, and I like her so well that I do not care to think of her missing the best thing that life can give her." "Which is---- ?" queried Katherine mischievously.
"Which is the love she longs for," Mrs.Burton answered, with a sentimental sigh.
Katherine broke into irrepressible laughter.