I saw Sarah turning up her eyes in admiration, and this induced me to make a reply which I am ashamed to record, it was so ungracious:
"I never eat cake," I said.
"Miss!" began Sarah.
"And I have brought you this," interrupted the young man, drawing forth a book from his pocket. He held it before my eyes; it had a bright cover, with a gilt title; the temptation was strong, but not stronger than my stubborn pride.
"Papa gives me books," I replied.
"Oh! very well," smilingly answered Cornelius; "I shall give him this to give to you."
His good-humoured forbearance began to make me feel penitent, when again
Sarah interfered with an unlucky "For shame, Miss!"
"She is only shy," kindly said Cornelius.
"Oh! Sir, it is sly we are," replied Sarah with a prim smile; "if we durst, we'd scamper away through that open door; ay, that we would!" she added, emphatically nodding her head at me. "We are very unkind, Sir."
"Not at all," observed Cornelius, taking my part; "Margaret is very fond of me, only she does not like to say so. Are you not, my dear?" he added with provoking confidence.