"Yes; do you not take Daisy with you?"
"If you can spare her."
"Of course I can," replied Kate, whose clouded face immediately brightened, "child, why are you not ready?"
What could I do but comply, and again go out walking with Cornelius? I resolved, however, that it should not be so on the following day. I declined accompanying him, giving him my reason, to which he submitted with a silent smile. I even managed to send him off without the knowledge of his sister. He had not long been gone when she came up from the kitchen where she had been engaged. She gave a rapid look round the room, and said hastily:
"Where is Cornelius?"
"He is gone out sketching, Kate," I replied without looking up from my work.
"Why did not you go with him?"
I did not answer.
"Did he not ask you?"
"I did not like to leave you."