Volume One—Chapter Eighteen.
The Encounter of the Cousins.
Opening the door, and passing out, Kate Vaughan paused timidly upon the top of the stairway that led down into the garden. Her steps were stayed by a feeling of bashful reserve, that was struggling to restrain her from carrying out a resolve somewhat hastily formed.
Her hesitancy was but the matter of a moment; for on the next—her resolution having become fixed—she descended the stairs, and advanced blushingly towards the kiosk.
Herbert had not quite recovered from surprise at the unexpected apparition, when he was saluted by the endearing interrogatory,—“Are you my cousin?” The question, so naïvely put, remained for a moment unanswered: for the tone of kindness in which it was spoken had caused him a fresh surprise, and he was too much confused to make answer.
He soon found speech, however, for the hypothetical reply:—
“If you are the daughter of Mr Loftus Vaughan—”
“I am.”
“Then I am proud of calling myself your cousin. I am Herbert Vaughan—from England.”