“Indeed, I mean no disrespect. I have never known her by any other name. I have helped to pack boxes for her, and choose playthings.”
Miss Bethune uttered a sudden exclamation.
“Then it was from Mrs. Bristow the boxes came?”
“Have I let out something that was a secret? I am not very good at secrets,” he said with a laugh.
“She might be an aunt as you say:—an aunt would be a good thing for her, poor child:—or she might be—— But is it Dora only she wants to see?”
“Dora only; and only Dora if it is certain that she would entertain no prejudices against a relation of her mother.”
“How could there be prejudices of such a kind?”
“That is too much to say: but I know from my own case that there are,” the young man said.
“I would like to hear your own case.”