“Mamma looked at me,” she said, “when I asked her about it, and said in her slow way, ‘It would cost a great deal. Your cousin has not one.’ And then, Emmy, I said, I supposed that I—that mamma had more money than Aunt Ellen—and so—”
“So you might get one. Of course, Kitty, don’t blush about it,” said Emberance kindly. “I shan’t be jealous.”
“But,” said Katharine, “mamma looked at me and the tears came into her eyes, and she said, as if she hated me, ‘So you can enjoy pleasures your cousin does not share,’ and went away.”
“That was very hard on you, Kate,” said Emberance warmly. “Aunt Mary should not have said so. Never mind, let us go in presently and talk about jackets, and I’ll tell her I have some seal-skin trimming at home quite good. I don’t want a new jacket.”
Katharine threw her arms round her cousin and kissed her with an odd sense of gratitude.
“Dear, dear Emmy, I should like you to have one too,” she said. “When I am twenty-one I’ll give you one.”
“Do,” said Emberance laughing, “and trim it with grey fur. What a funny little child you are, Kitty!”
“Emberance,” said Kate suddenly, “I never thought about it before. We are cousins. Why am I rich instead of you?”
“Because grandpapa left Kingsworth to your father and not to mine,” said Emberance turning her head away with a sudden stiffness.
“Why?” said Kate.