"Oh, Jeanie darling, don't, don't cry like that! What shall we do?"
The beautiful vision in blue was hiding her face in the sofa cushions and sobbing.
"It's only me," exclaimed Toney coughing. "Is anything the matter?" Jeanie jumped up.
"No, no, thank you, I did not feel very well. I think I would prefer going up to my room."
"Oh! and miss Mr. Weston's playing! Please come and hear him, and after that you can go--and--and----" Poor Toney was non-plussed.
"Forgive me," said Jeanie, her pride giving way, "I was upset; I once knew Mr. Weston and--we were great friends, but we quarrelled, and--he--won't forgive me."
"Is that all? Did you say you were sorry, Jeanie? It's best to be quite straight out, isn't it? No use beating about the bush, and let me see---- Oh! he's in the little waiting-room now, I'll go and ask him--won't you give me one of your flowers or something?"
"Oh no, no, I can't--he would--throw them away--and I should deserve it."
"He looks awfully nice, Jeanie, such a good strong face; no nonsense at all. I expect he did feel a bit hipped, but--look here, if he sends you your flowers back again, you'll know he can't forgive, but if he sends you the white camellia I gave him, then you'll know it's all right, and go at once to the room. I'll send Jim, he's awfully safe. Will you wait here? There's crowds coming, and Aunt Dove and Mr. Russell are saying a lot of nothings which people like, so there's time yet."
Maud unpinned her sister's flowers with trembling fingers as Jeanie sat up, clasping her hands.
"Toney, you are kind, but you don't understand. I behaved so horridly to him. I let mother insult him, and he must have hated me. I deserve it all and now--now--it's horrid to say so but I would not be so unhappy if only he could forgive me, but he never will; he is proud too--as proud of his people as I am about mine, and I threw it at him. Would you ever forgive that, Toney? He never spoke to me, only once--just to ask me to have something. I nearly died."
Toney seized the flowers, there was so little time.
"Look here, Jeanie, I'll just go and reconnoitre. Here's my glove with a green finger, if you get the camellia take my glove and Jim will let you in. All those old sillies would want to get at him, and one of his conditions was a quarter of an hour alone before the concert."