"Not much of late,—I mean when you are alone; not this whole week; I thought you were vexed with me, and when you said 'Come up' this morning, just in the old way, I felt so glad that, if Kate had not been looking, I should have jumped up and kissed you."
But Kate was not there now to restrain me—for the most innocent affection is shy and shuns the eye of a gazer—so I kissed her brother as I loved him—with my whole heart.
"That will never do," exclaimed Cornelius, looking very uncomfortable; "listen to me, child, I have something to say to you."
"I am listening, Cornelius," I replied, without changing my attitude.
"I cannot speak in that sideways fashion."
I walked round and sat down on his knee.
"I shall be quite opposite you so," I said.
Cornelius looked disconcerted, and observed gravely, "My dear, you are getting too old for all this; you must be near thirteen."
"My birthday is in two months' time; yours in five."
"True. Well, as I was observing, there are things natural in the child which might seem foolish in the young girl."