"They have company. I am glad I came upstairs," she thought, feeling far too dejected to meet strangers.
The murmur of voices continued a while, then the front door closed, and Kathleen thought the guests were leaving.
Directly afterward, Mrs. Franklyn entered the room with an excited face.
"Kathleen, do you remember the strange story you told us about Daisy Lynn?" she asked. "Well, she is here in this house! She is no more insane than you are, and is your living image—only, perhaps, not quite as pretty. She knows all you suffered in her place, and is just dying to meet you. Will you come down?"
"I should like to have her come up here," answered Kathleen, who felt as if she would like to be quite alone at first with Daisy Lynn, the fair young girl whose line of life had so strangely and tragically crossed her own.
Mrs. Franklyn understood her wish, and a few minutes afterward she led Daisy to Kathleen's door and gently withdrew.
They looked at each other—the two beautiful young creatures—then they smiled at the likeness they saw in each other's faces. At that smile their hearts leaped to each other.
"Daisy Lynn! Oh, you poor darling!" cried Kathleen, holding out her arms.
Daisy ran into them. They kissed, then wept together.