Dorothy was at length brought home; she was much fascinated by the Countess, and saw nothing tragic, but rather all that was truly delightful, in what had happened. In the evening, when the excitement was over, and Dorothy was put to bed, Sir Ashley said, ‘She has saved Dorothy; and I have been asking myself what I can do for her as a slight acknowledgment of her heroism. Surely we ought to let her have Dorothy to bring up, since she still desires to do it? It would be so much to Dorothy’s advantage. We ought to look at it in that light, and not selfishly.’
Philippa seized his hand. ‘Ashley, Ashley! You don’t mean it—that I must lose my pretty darling—the only one I have?’ She met his gaze with her piteous mouth and wet eyes so painfully strained, that he turned away his face.
The next morning, before Dorothy was awake, Lady Mottisfont stole to the girl’s bedside, and sat regarding her. When Dorothy opened her eyes, she fixed them for a long time upon Philippa’s features.
‘Mamma—you are not so pretty as the Contessa, are you?’ she said at length.
‘I am not, Dorothy.’
‘Why are you not, mamma?’
‘Dorothy—where would you rather live, always; with me, or with her?’
The little girl looked troubled. ‘I am sorry, mamma; I don’t mean to be unkind; but I would rather live with her; I mean, if I might without trouble, and you did not mind, and it could be just the same to us all, you know.’
‘Has she ever asked you the same question?’
‘Never, mamma.’