"I wish papa would go with me, Laura," she said. "I never enjoy anything without him. Where is he?"
I had seen him ten minutes before that on the lower terrace with Miss Reinhart, and they were going to the grounds. He was smoking a cigar; she was looking most fascinating and beautiful in her elegant morning dress and coquettish hat. Without thinking, I replied, hastily:
"He is out in the grounds with Miss Reinhart."
Ah, heaven! shall I ever forget the face turned to mine, so white, so scared, so stricken?
"What did you say, Laura? Come here; I did not hear you."
Then, when her trembling hands clutched mine, I knew what I had done quite well. Patience came round to my mother with a look at me that spoke volumes.
"My lady," she said, "do pray be calm. You know how ill even the least emotion makes you, and Miss Laura is so frightened when you are ill!"
The sweet face grew whiter.
"I will remember," she said.
Then she repeated the question, but my intelligence had grown in the last few minutes.