“The ladies have known and cared little about Kate or us for a good many years,” said Mary, almost to herself, but in such a hurt tone, that her father looked up with grave reproof in his eyes, as if to remind her of all he had been saying to her during the long hours that the little girls had waited.
“‘With your Aunt Jane’s love, and hoping shortly to be better acquainted, I remain, my dear little niece, your affectionate aunt, Barbara Umfraville.’ Then I am to go and live with them!” said Kate, drawing a long sigh. “O Papa, do let Sylvia come too, and learn of my governess with me!”
“Your aunts do not exactly contemplate that,” said Mr. Wardour; “but perhaps there may be visits between you.”
Sylvia began to look very grave. She had not understood that this great news was to lead to nothing but separation. Everything had hitherto been in common between her and Kate, and that what was good for the one should not be good for the other was so new and strange, that she did not understand it at once.
“Oh yes! we will visit. You shall all come and see me in London, and see the Zoological Gardens and the British Museum; and I will send you such presents!”
“We will see,” said Mr. Wardour kindly; “but just now, I think the best thing you can do is to write to your aunt, and thank her for her kind letter; and say that I will bring you up to London on the day she names, without troubling the governess and the butler.”
“Oh, thank you!” said Kate; “I sha’n’t be near so much afraid if you come with me.”
Mr. Wardour left the room; and the first thing Mary did was to throw her arms round the little girl in a long vehement embrace. “My little Kate! my little Kate! I little thought this was to be the end of it!” she cried, kissing her, while the tears dropped fast.
Kate did not like it at all. The sight of strong feeling distressed her, and made her awkward and ungracious. “Don’t, Mary,” she said, disengaging herself; “never mind; I shall always come and see you; and when I grow up, you shall come to live with me at Caergwent. And you know, when they write a big red book about me, they will put in that you brought me up.”
“Write a big red book about you, Kate!”