Trembling with nervousness I answered that it was.
"Do you belong to the O'Neills of Ellan?"
Still trembling I told her that I did.
"My!" she said in quite another tone, and then I saw that by some means I had begun to look different in her eyes.
After a moment she sat on the side of my bed and asked questions about my home—if it was not large and very old, with big stone staircases, and great open fireplaces, and broad terraces, and beautiful walks going down to the sea.
I was so filled with the joy of finding myself looking grand in Alma's eyes that I answered "yes" and "yes" without thinking too closely about her questions, and my tears were all brushed away when she said:
"I knew somebody who lived in your house once, and I'll tell her all about you."
She stayed a few moments longer, and when going off she whispered:
"Hope you don't feel badly about my laughing in the garden to-day. I didn't mean a thing. But if any of the girls laugh again just say you're Alma Lier's friend and she's going to take care of you."
I could hardly believe my ears. Some great new splendour had suddenly dawned upon me and I was very happy.