I threw my arm around the neck of Kate, and kissed her as I joyfully exclaimed, "I shall sleep in my room again!"
"Which is no reason for spilling my tea, you foolish little thing."
After tea I quite expected that Cornelius would go out or Miriam come in; but he sat reading, and Miss Russell never appeared; her name was not even mentioned. I had taken my place by Kate, and, in the joy of my heart, I could not refrain from indulging in a few caresses. She endured me for some time, but, though kind, she was not exactly affectionate, and she at length said good-humouredly but decisively--
"Daisy, my good child, don't hang about me so. I like you, but I might say something sharp; so just take that kiss, and do with it."
She said this so pleasantly, and kissed me so kindly as she said it, that there was no taking it amiss, nor was there any disobeying it; so I sighed, drew back, and kept in my feelings. To Cornelius I never ventured to speak, unless to hid him good-night.
I woke the next morning with the consciousness that my brief happiness was over. The day was bright with sunshine; the blue sky had not a sign of coming cloud; there was not the faintest hope of a drop of rain to delay my departure. I came down with a somewhat heavy heart. Kate was the first to broach the subject; breakfast was over, her brother was rising from the table; he sat down again as she said, "Cornelius, who is to take the child back?"
He looked at her, at me, hesitated a little, then said, "I know all you can object, Kate, all you can say beforehand, yet do not wonder when I tell you that I have come to the resolve of keeping Daisy at home."
"Here!" exclaimed Kate.
"Yes, here. I went to fetch her yesterday for that purpose. I have written to Mr. Thornton; it is all settled. Daisy is to stay here if she wishes."
"Cornelius," gravely said Kate, "have you reflected on what you are doing?"
"Very seriously; not that it required much reflection."
"Indeed but it did," interrupted his sister.
"Excuse me, Kate, it did not. When I thought it best for Daisy to leave us, it was because I also thought that my marriage would take place this summer; it is now postponed for at least a year or two. I never contemplated banishing Daisy from home for anything like that length of time. When I went for her yesterday, I was confirmed in my resolve by learning from Mrs. Gray that her health is still very uncertain. I found her myself pale and thin. Strangers cannot be supposed to care for her as you and I do, Kate. She is still very weak and delicate; her only place is home; for," he added, giving me a look of reproach, "_I_ have never ceased to consider this as her home."
Kate gave him no direct answer, but, looking at him fixedly, she said, "Does Miss Russell know this?"
"No," he replied, looking pained, "she does not, Kate. I see by the question that your old suspicion still survives. On my word Miriam had nothing to do with making me send away Daisy; she even raised several objections to it; she will be truly pleased to learn that the child is come back."
Miss O'Reilly looked incredulous, but, glancing out at the window, she said, "Here is your letter, Cornelius."
He started up; the postman gave that knock which has moved to joy or sorrow so many hearts; a letter was brought in; Cornelius snatched it from Deborah, and eagerly broke the seal; it looked long; he was soon absorbed.
Kate repressed a sigh to turn to me, and say in her most cheerful accents, "What do you say to all this?"
I was standing by her chair; I laid my cheek to hers as I replied, "The week will be made up of Sundays."
"Were the Sundays so pleasant?"
"As pleasant as the Saturdays seemed long."
"Well, they need be neither short nor long now; only, child, don't you remember?"
"What, Kate?"
"If you hang about me I shall scold."
"Then let me deserve the scolding," I replied, covering her brow and hair with kisses, and half laughing, half crying for joy.
She looked at me wistfully, for once letting me do as I liked, and saying "she did not feel as if she could scold me to-day."
"Because you are too good," I answered, in a low, moved tone. "Oh, Kate, shall I ever forget how you never forgot me; how constantly you came to see me Sunday after Sunday!"
Here I stopped short, for I caught the look of Cornelius, who had laid down his letter, and was evidently listening.
"What else had I to do?" asked Kate, cheerfully.
She rose to go downstairs. I wanted to go with her, but she gaily told me she no more fancied being followed than being hung about, so I had to remain behind, but with the blessed consciousness, it is true, that there was to be no second parting. Joy made me restless. I knew not what to do with myself. I went to the window; I looked at the flowers, at the books, and finally at Cornelius, who, to read his letter more comfortably, was sitting on the sofa. I saw that when he had done he began it over again.
It was a lady's hand; there was no difficulty in guessing from whom it came. When the second perusal was over he looked up; as our eyes met I came forward rather hesitatingly, and standing before him, I said--
"May I speak to you, Cornelius?"
"Certainly, but do not be too long about it?"
"It will not take long. I only want to thank you for having brought me home to Kate."
"You thank me for that?"
"Yes, Cornelius, it has made me so happy."
"I am glad to hear it, though I did not mean it."
"Did you not?" I replied, rather mortified.
"No," he continued, in an indifferent tone, "not at all. It is true there was once a little girl who used not to be shy and distant with me"--I drew a little nearer--"who would not speak to me standing, but sitting by my side"--I sat down by him--"and whom I used to call my child,"
continued Cornelius without looking at me; "and it is also true," he added in the same way, "that feeling rather dull, I thought one morning I would go and bring her home; but if there was any kindness in this, I cannot say I meant it all for her or for Kate."
He turned round, smiling as he spoke. I threw my arms around his neck and kissed him eagerly. I felt so happy; he laughed.
"Poor Kate!" he said, gaily, "well may she object to being hung on after this fashion; but I am used to it."
"If you had not spoken so, you know I should not," I replied, half offended.
"No, you sulky little thing," he said almost indignantly, "I know you would not: what between obstinacy and pride, you would never give in. But you mistook, Daisy, if you thought you could make me fancy you preferred Kate to me."
"As if I was not sure you knew better!" I answered, with the frank ingratitude of my years.
"Thank you, Daisy," said the somewhat sorrowful voice of Kate.
I looked up. She was standing behind us; she had evidently overheard our last words. I felt myself crimsoning with shame, and hid my face on the shoulder of Cornelius.
"Don't hide your face, child," quietly observed Kate, "I do not prefer you: why should you prefer me? Besides, loving him more is not loving me less, and I was not so foolish as not to know it was thus: so look up."
"Yes, look up," said Cornelius, raising my face. "Kate is not vexed with you."
"But Kate is vexed with you, Cornelius," she remarked, very gravely: "do you mean to spoil that child, to--"