"You spoil her, do you not?" asked Miriam.
"Kate says so. Do I spoil you, Daisy?"
I said "Yes," and half hid my face on his shoulder, whence I looked at Miriam, who smiled, as if the fondness of Cornelius for me, and mine for him, gave her pleasure to see.
"She spoils me, but she won't let me have my way," said a soft lisping voice from the porch. We looked, and saw Miss Ducky's pretty curled head bending forward and looking at us. Her sister's whole face underwent a change on seeing her.
"But then she's so jealous," continued Ducky, pouting, "I hope you are not jealous of Daisy."
"Foolish child!" said Miriam, striving to smile.
"But then she's very fond of me," resumed Ducky, smiling; "when Doctor
Johnson, stupid man, said I could not live, she was nearly distracted.
Silly of her, was it not, Mr. O'Reilly?"
Her look so pertinaciously sought his that he could scarcely have avoided looking at her. She was very pretty thus in the gloom of the porch, and he smiled at her fresh young beauty. I saw Miriam glance uneasily from one to the other, then a cloud gathered on her brow. She bade us a sudden adieu, went up to her sister, and led her away, spite of her evident reluctance. Cornelius continued to look like one entranced on the spot where Miriam had lately stood; I was but a child, yet I knew he was now listening to the sweet and delusive voice of passion, unheeded during the earlier years of his youth, and enchanting him at last. I was watching his face attentively: he looked down, met my glance, and said quietly—
"Confess Miss Ducky is much prettier than her sister."
If he wanted me to contradict, he was disappointed.