"So soon? Ah, how glad I am! I wonder," reflectively, "what my aunt will think about me."
"She will be astonished, for one thing," he replied.
"Why?"
"Because I think she is expecting a child. She will be surprised to see a young lady."
"Poor papa!" a sigh; "he always called me his little girl. That is how the mistake has been made. Ah, Captain Lancaster, I can not tell you how much I miss my father!"
There was a tremor in the young voice. His heart thrilled with pity for her loneliness.
"I hope your aunt will be so kind to you that she will make up to you for his loss," he said.
"Tell me something about her," said Leonora.
"I am afraid I can not tell you much," he answered, with some embarrassment. "She is a good woman. I have heard Lady Lancaster say that much."
"Of course, you can not be expected to know much about a mere housekeeper," with a distinct inflection of bitterness in her voice. "Well, then, tell me about Lady Lancaster. Who is she?"