"Really and truly? Have you forgotten it?"
"Really and truly, just now. I may remember it presently, when I am crawling upstairs to bed to-night, with my arm round Joe Battishill's neck; but just now it is clean gone, and every day I shall grow stronger, you know."
She did not answer. She saw fate, in the shape of Jane Gollop, bearing down upon her from the open farm-house door.
"Miss Elaine, my dear, you wasn't to stay but a very little while to-day; and, if we don't start back, you won't be in time to go to the station with your Aunt Charlotte to meet your brother, you know."
"To meet your brother!" echoed Osmond.
"Yes." She turned to him. "He is my step-brother; I have never seen him since he was a baby."
"Really? That sounds odd; but you are orphans; I suppose he is being brought up by other relations. I think it was cruel to separate you. How old is he?"
"Just fourteen. I am glad he is coming at last."
"I suppose so; and you will be so happy together that you will forget to come up to Poole and see the poor sick man?"
"You know I shall not. I shall bring Godfrey."