‘What is quite true?’ Oswald was a great deal more vain than Cara was, being older and having had more time to see the effect of his good looks. He laughed, and did not push his question any further. It was a pleasant beginning. He had his mother’s sympathetic grace of manner, and, Cara felt at once, understood her and all her difficulties at a glance, as Mrs. Meredith had done. How far this was true may be an open question; but she was convinced of it, which for the moment was enough. ‘We did not come downstairs so ceremoniously last time we met,’ he said. ‘When you came for the nursery tea, with nurse behind you. I think Edward held the chief place in your affections then. He was nearer your age; but thank Heaven that fellow is out of the way, and I have a little time to make the running before he comes back!’ Cara did not know what it meant to ‘make the running,’ and was puzzled. She was not acquainted with any slang except that which has crept into books, but an expression of pleasure in Edward’s absence appalled her. ‘I remember him best,’ she said, ‘because he was more near my age; but you were both big boys--too big to care for a little thing like me. I remember seeing you come in with a latch-key one afternoon and open the door--ah!’ said Cara, with a little cry. It had been on the afternoon of her mother’s death when she had been placed at the window to look for her father’s coming, and had seen the two big boys in the afternoon light, and watched them, with an interest which quite distracted her attention for the moment, fitting the key into the door. ‘What is it?’ he said, looking at her very kindly. ‘You have not been here for a long time--yes, it must bring back so many things. Look, Cara! Sims is gracious; she will not poison me this time. She has not even frowned at me, and it is all because of you.’ ‘I like Sims,’ said Cara, her heart rising, she could not tell why. ‘I like everybody I used to know.’ ‘So do I--because you do; otherwise I am not so fond of my fellow-creatures; some of them plague one’s life out. What are you going to do when you get used to the excitement of seeing us all again? You will find yourself very badly off for something to do.’ ‘Do you?’ said Cara, innocently. ‘My mother does for me. She thinks me very idle. So I am, I suppose. What is the good of muddling what little brains one has in work? One in a family who does that is enough. Edward is that excellent person. He goes in for Greek so that my head aches; though why he should, being intended for the Civil Service, I don’t know.’