“No, my dear,” replied Mrs. Davenant. “I think you only show a naturally affectionate heart. You have never been from home before.”
“Never,” said Una. “Never out of the woods.”
“My poor child. No, I do not think you ungrateful. I like to see that you feel leaving home so much. For you will come, will you not? I shall be disappointed and grieved if you do not, now that I have seen you.”
“Now that you have seen me,” said Una.
“Yes, my dear. For I am sure that I shall love you, and I hope that you will grow fond of me.”
“Do you?” said Una, musingly. “Yes,” she said, after a pause, “I shall love you.”
“Will you kiss me, my dear,” she said; and Una bent and kissed her.
“And now that you think—that you are sure you will like me—you will come,” said Mrs. Davenant.
Una looked before her thoughtfully, almost dreamily, for a moment, then replied:
“Yes, my father wishes me to go. Why does he wish me to go into the world he hates and fears so much? It was only the other day that he warned me against wishing for it, and told me that I should never be happy if I left Warden. Why has he changed so suddenly?”