Mr. Rutledge answered lightly, but very indifferently; really he begged Mrs. Churchill would forgive his misrepresentation of facts, if he had been guilty of any; he was, he acknowledged, culpably unenlightened on the different stages of rosebud-opening; it had struck him that the rosebud under discussion was in the unopened and undeveloped state, and so he had spoken of it; but he begged Mrs. Churchill would excuse his ignorance and inattention.
Mrs. Churchill said, recovering an easy tone:
"Ah, we all know your sad willfulness and coldness!" This in French; then in English, "Josephine, my child, here is your new cousin."
Josephine came forward, and with pretty empressement, kissed me on both cheeks, and held my hand affectionately as she exclaimed:
"Why, mamma! she is taller than I am, and so much older than I expected!"
"And you are so different!" I said, gazing admiringly at her slight, elegant figure, and pleasing brunette face.
"Do not forget your old friend for your new one, though, Miss Josephine," said Mr. Rutledge, extending his hand.
Josephine looked very coquettish and pretty, dropped her eyes, and gave him her hand, saying:
"You were so long in coming, we began to doubt whether you cared for that title."
"Put my long-delayed return, Miss Josephine, down to a combination of the most adverse and unconquerable circumstances. What with runaway cars, and runaway horses, broken arms, and brain fevers, the wonder is, not that we did not arrive before, but that we arrived at all."