"She is not mine!" Hermione replied, resisting an impulse to apologise.
"No; but—" Julia hesitated, having said almost as much as she dared. "Hermione, won't you try to forget all this of to-day? Won't you kiss me, and let me be your sister?"
The kiss was rather accepted than given. Julia sighed, with a baffled feeling that she had done her utmost and had failed.
"It is so cold up here. Are you not coming down soon?"
"Not till dinner-time."
Julia left the room without another word, and half-way downstairs, as she passed a little alcove on a landing filled with plants, Mittie seized upon her.
"Aunt Julia! Aunt Julia! come in here! Mother's in the drawing-room, and I want to speak to you first. Have you been to cousin Hermione?"
Julia had not meant the fact to become known. Being a bad hand at fencing, however, she said, "Yes," and submitted to be dragged into the retreat.
"Is cousin Hermione angry still? Or is she miserable?"
"I dare say she is not very cheerful; but that is not your business, Mittie?"