"It cannot quite be our natural right," said Primrose. "There are no possible circumstances under which it can be quite natural for girls to take money help from even the kindest friends who are not related to them."
"In this case there may even possibly be a relationship," proceeded Mrs. Ellsworthy. "Primrose, suppose that little brother who was lost long ago—little Arthur your mother called him—suppose he came here to-day, and said, 'I am grown up, and rich—I am the right person to help my sisters,' you would feel no soreness of heart at accepting help from your own brother, Primrose?"
"My own brother," repeated Primrose in a wistful and longing voice; "it is cruel to remind me of my brother. He was lost many, many years ago; he has probably long been dead."
"I should be the happiest girl in all the world if I could find my brother," here interrupted Jasmine; "I often dream of him at night; he must have been a darling little boy."
"But if he were to come here twenty times," said Daisy, "I could never love him better than I love the Prince."
There was quite a little buzz of admiration through the room when Daisy made this innocent little speech, and all eyes were turned on Arthur Noel. Then there was a pause. Mr. Ellsworthy was again heard to clear his throat, and no one seemed quite to know what to do next. Suddenly Hannah Martin broke the spell—
"Goodness gracious me!" she said, "how long are the darling young ladies to be kept in suspense? Miss Primrose, why, you have got a brother, and there he stands. Mr. Arthur, come and kiss your sisters, my dear. Oh, my darling, darling girls, it's perfectly, perfectly true; he's the boy your mother broke her heart about long ago."
The confusion and agitation which followed can scarcely be described—the joy of the sisters can scarcely be painted. Daisy took this wonderful and important discovery more coolly and calmly than the others.
"It doesn't make a bit of difference in my love to him," she said, "for I always loved him as if he were my brother."
"And now, Primrose," said Arthur, "you are mistress of this house, and please remember that visitors are coming here presently, and that you are to entertain them."