"And what do you want me to do regarding her, Kitty?"
"I do not know. I don't want to do her any injury. Don't be surprised when you meet her, that is all, and—"
"Kitty, your heart is a great deal too tender. You ought not to belong to this evil world at all," said Sir John, while her father looked at Kitty and asked for an explanation.
"Another time, father. All Sir John has to do is to treat Miss Keys as if he had never met her before."
"Well, I daresay I can manage more than that for your sake, Kitty; and now, here we are at the house."
Mrs. Aylmer and her adopted son, Maurice Trevor, were standing on the steps to meet their guests. The moment she saw Trevor, Kitty smiled and took an eager step forward to meet him. He held out his hand.
"This is a real pleasure," she said. "I had forgotten all about your being here. Do you remember Dawlish?"
"Of course I do," he answered. "I do not easily forget pleasant occasions."
Mrs. Aylmer now turned to Kitty, took her hand in hers, and, turning her gently round, looked into her face. It was a good face, eyes of the sweetest grey, delicate colouring, an intelligent forehead, lips true and pure and honest. Mrs. Aylmer scarcely knew why she sighed, and why a wish rose up in her heart that she had never felt before: that Maurice, the boy she truly loved, should really like and marry this girl. Just for the moment she forgot all about Kitty's future circumstances; she welcomed her for herself.
"Would you like to go for a walk before dinner?" said Trevor. "Miss Keys is rowing on the lake; we will go to meet her."