“Why, Frank,” Sarah said warmly, “this is a surprise, I am glad to see you again.” “And I'm glad to be back again, Sarah.” Then Frank turned to Katie, who was coming forward slowly, and rather reluctantly, for she felt that her cheeks were telling unmistakably that she was not uninterested in this unexpected arrival. Frank greeted her with, “How are you, Miss O'Byrne?—but I need not ask, it's charming you're looking any way.” “Don't flatter yourself that it's from pleasure at seeing you again, Mr. Maynard.” “Don't say that, Miss O'Byrne, it's downright cruel; I've been picturing you to myself sitting with your watch in your hand, counting the minutes to my arrival.” “You are wrong, anyhow,” Katie said with indignant triumph, “for I did not even know you were coming. Teddy,” she said, turning to her cousin, “why did you not tell me Mr. Maynard was coming down?” “I asked him not to say anything about it, Miss O'Byrne,” Frank said, seeing Katie was really indignant, “either to you or his sister, I thought it would be a surprise, and I hoped a pleasant one.” “And really and truly did not you know, Sarah?” Katie asked, for up to this time she believed that it had been a plot on the part of all the others to keep her in the dark, and that Sarah especially had endeavoured to surprise her by bringing her suddenly upon Frank. “Really and truly, Katie, I had no more idea than you had.” “Well,” Katie said, mollified, “in that case I forgive you, Teddy, I thought you were all tricking me. I didn't mean to be cross, Mr. Maynard,” she said frankly, “only I thought I was being made a fool of, and I hate that,” and she shook hands with him again and looked up unflinchingly at him with her honest eyes. It was not until evening that, when Sarah was playing, Frank had an opportunity of speaking alone to Katie, “I am sorry I vexed you, Miss O'Byrne.” “It was stupid of me to be vexed,” Katie said, “but I always hate surprises, and I thought Sarah had known it all along, and was trying to make me look ridiculous. I am sorry for it, Mr. Maynard.” “Then you were not really sorry to see me again, Katie, it was not that?” “No,” Katie said gently, “it was not that.” “I have been looking forward so much to seeing you again,” Frank said. “Oh, yes,” the girl answered, “I suppose you wanted some one to plague.” “Do you really dislike being plagued, Katie, honestly now? I won't do it any more if you do.” She was silent awhile, and then said, “I did not like it at first, but now I begin to understand you I don't mind; only I can't help being vexed, and then I am ashamed afterwards.” “Yes, Katie,” Frank said, “I know I used to teaze you abominably; but you remember what I told you about the sea?” “Well, Mr. Maynard, you talked so much nonsense, that I can hardly remember one part more than another.” Katie rose to go to the piano, but Frank could see by her face that she did remember it for all that.