The old woman looked delighted and astonished.
"I always said my blessed young lady would make a grand match," she said; "and so he is to be rich! God bless the good young gentleman!"
"He will be quite a great man," I resumed, "a Knight perhaps, or a
Baronet."
She raised her hands.
"Ah well!" she sighed, after brooding for a few moments over my words, "he will have a blessed young lady for his wife, as good as she's handsome; and," she added, turning towards me her sightless eyes and gently laying her hand on my head, "and happy's the little girl that'll be with my dear young lady."
CHAPTER XX.
Matters had gone on thus for about a month, when Cornelius sold his Happy Time. Kate made him promise not to be extravagant; the only act of folly of which he rendered himself guilty was not a very expensive one.
One morning, when Miriam came to the studio, to sit as usual, Cornelius produced a pair of morocco cases; each contained a silver filagree bracelet: he asked her to choose one, and accept it. She was sitting in the attire and attitude of Medora; he stood by her, his present in his hand.
"Must I really choose?" she said. "What will Miss O'Reilly say?"
"Oh! the other is not for Kate, but for Daisy," he quietly answered.