Stephen advanced quickly and shook hands with Mrs. Stonehouse, saying heartily:
‘I am so glad you have come. I am honoured in being trusted.’
‘Thank you so much, Lady de Lannoy. I felt that you would not mind, especially when you know why we came. Indeed I had no choice. Pearl insisted on it; and when Pearl is urgent—we who love her have all to give way. This is Pearl!’
In an instant Stephen was on her knees by the beautiful child.
The red rosebud of a mouth was raised to her kiss, and the little arms went lovingly round her neck and clung to her. As the mother looked on delighted she thought she had never seen a more beautiful sight. The two faces so different, and yet with so much in common. The red hair and the flaxen, both tints of gold. The fine colour of each heightened to a bright flush in their eagerness. Stephen was so little used to children, and yet loved them so, that all the womanhood in her, which is possible motherhood, went out in an instant to the lovely eager child. She felt the keenest pleasure when the little thing, having rubbed her silk-gloved palms over her face, and then holding her away so that she could see her many beauties, whispered in her ear:
‘How pretty you are!’
‘You darling!’ whispered Stephen in reply. ‘We must love each other very much, you and I!’
When the two ladies had sat down, Stephen holding Pearl in her lap, Mrs. Stonehouse said:
‘I suppose you have wondered, Lady de Lannoy, what has brought us here?’
‘Indeed I was very much interested.’