"And of you, mamma," said Constance, reproachfully.
"Yes, my dear, yes. I think I must be growing jealous."
"There is no reason, mamma dear. I love you both with all my heart. And Julian loves us both with all his. And you love us both with all yours. So it is really equal all round."
"Constance," said Emilia, "if it were ever to happen that you had to choose between Julian and me----"
"Mamma," cried Constance, "you frighten me!"
"Forgive me, darling, forgive me," said Emilia, hastening to repair her error by caresses, "but all sorts of notions come into a foolish mother's head when she is about to lose her child."
"Now, mamma," said Constance, forcing her mother into a chair and kneeling before her, "I am going to be very severe with you. How, can you talk of my choosing between Julian and you? Why, mamma, it is impossible, it would break my heart! And how can you talk of losing your child? You will never lose her, darling mamma. Instead of losing me you will have another to look after as well as me; you will have Julian, who loves you nearly, not quite--I will not have that--as much as I do."
"Never, Constance."
"And you will never think it again?"
"Never, dear," said Emilia; and she was careful from that hour to keep a more jealous guard over her tongue.