"We'll have a fire directly," said Alec.
"No, no," returned Kate, trying to smile. "Just fetch me a shawl from the closet in my room."
Alec had not been in his own room since Kate came. He entered it with a kind of gentle awe, and stood just within the door, gazing as if rebuked.
From a pair of tiny shoes under the dressing-table, radiated a whole roomful of feminity. He was almost afraid to go further, and would not have dared to look in the mirror. In three days her mere presence had made the room marvellous.
Recovering himself, he hastened to the cloaet, got the shawl, and went down the stair three steps at a time.
"Couldn't you find it, Alec?" said Kate.
"Oh! yes; I found it at once," answered Alec, blushing to the eyes.
I wonder whether Kate guessed what made the boy blush. But it does not matter much now. She did look curiously at him for a moment.
"Just help me with my shawl," she said.