Screening the light from herself with one hand, she threw the full glare on the other’s face, and, in a voice of deep emotion, said, “I see well why she was frightened. Your name is Luttrell!”
“I must not deny it to the only one that remains of all my kin. Are you not my Cousin Kate?”
She held out her hand to him, and, in a voice quavering and broken, said, “How glad I am to see you—and to see you here under your own roof.”
“There must be two words more before that be settled, Kate,” said he, kindly, as, still holding her hand in his own, he walked back with her to her room.
“There, Molly—there’s your young master; perhaps you’ll be less frightened now that you see him at my side.”
While the poor woman gave way to a transport of joy and tears, Harry continued to gaze at Kate with an intense eagerness. “Tell me one thing, Cousin Kate,” said he, in a whisper; “answer me truly: Were you on board of a convict-ship in Kingstown harbour on Tuesday last, as she was getting under weigh?”
She nodded assent
“Then it was I who lifted you into the boat, and asked your leave to see you safely on shore.”
“I’m ashamed to seem ungrateful, but I have no memory of your kindness. I had too much sorrow on my heart that morning.”
“Oh, if you knew how I longed to meet you again—how I walked and walked incessantly to try and come up with you, never dreaming of such happiness as this—that, when we met, I could claim you as my own dear cousin!”