At length I yielded; and, on his request, went up to ask Kate to join us. She refused peremptorily, and said she liked home best. As she helped me to finish my toilet, she gave me sundry instructions concerning my behaviour. I was to let Cornelius be civil to me, it was his turn now, and if he picked up my glove, carried my shawl or put it on, I was to take it as a matter of course.
"Very well, Kate," I said, "but it is odd."
"Why so!"
"I don't know, but it is odd."
We were entering the parlour where Cornelius stood waiting for me. I gave him the shawl I had brought down on my arm.
"You are to put that on me," I said, "for Kate says you are to be civil to me; so I hope you will, and not disgrace me in the face of the whole house by any want of proper attention due to the sex. I cannot go and tell the people 'you need not wonder at his being so rude; it is all because he knew me when I was a little girl.'"
"Impertinent little thing," observed Kate, "I only told her not to be civil to you."
"Well, am I? I spoke as impertinently as I could. Did I not, Cornelius?"
"Indeed you did," he replied, smiling, and helping me to pin my shawl on.
"Have you any more commands for me?"
"Only just to hold my fan, my gloves, my scent-bottle, my handkerchief, and to give me your arm."