“You are. Do you think I could not see?”
He looked at her with his eyes full of admiration, and then turned to the fire again.
“I am most grateful, guardian,” she said. “But shall I have to be a prisoner long?”
“Hah!” he said with a sigh, and as if not hearing her question, “you are right, my child. I have had a very, very worrying day.”
“I thought so,” said Kate, resuming her seat, and looking at him in a commiserating way. “I hope it is nothing very serious.”
“Serious?” he said, turning to her, sharply. “Well, yes it is, but I ought not to worry you about it.”
“They say that sometimes relief comes in speaking of our troubles.”
“But suppose one gets relief, and the other pain?” he said, looking at her quickly.
“Then it is something about me?”
He turned and looked at the fire again.