"Because," replied Verona, and her pale lip quivered, "I wanted so much to see my own mother."
Mrs. Lopez gave vent to her queer, wheezy laugh.
"Then you were wrong to come," she declared. "It is as if one had put their head in the oil press and cried: 'The favour of Vishnu, be on me.'"
"I don't understand you, Nani. What do you mean?"
"It is always dark under the lamp."
"But still I am in the dark," she murmured.
"Well then, lovey, you are a stupid girl! you will guess my meaning when I say an English proverb: 'Put not your head in the lion's mouth.' You have heard that, surely?"
"Yes, but where is the lion, Nani?"
"My child, may you never find out!" and with this somewhat solemn aspiration Mrs. Lopez left the room in order to restore her other invalid to its mother. It must not be supposed that Verona was entirely neglected by her family—for such was far from being the case. Her father daily came and gazed at her through the door, and brought her a few flowers. Pussy was demonstratively affectionate, and remained with her sister as long as her grandmother would tolerate. Mrs. Lepell sent dainty little dishes and picture papers; otherwise, as far as the outer world was concerned, the arrival of "the new Miss Chandos" appeared to have been almost forgotten, and when Dom and Blanche mixed in the little local gaieties and were asked about Verona, they invariably replied that "she was arl-right!"
One day Mrs. Lepell paid a visit, and had an interview with the invalid and her mother. "She wants a change," declared the benevolent lady. "Miss Verona, will you come over and spend a week or two at my house?"