I thought it poor comfort--there are so many things in a face besides eyebrows and eyelashes; but drawing the shawl over mine, I checked my tears, and asked Cornelius to take me back to my room. He complied silently, and, as he laid me down on my bed, said gently-- "Have I your word that you will not look at yourself?" "Yes, Cornelius," I replied, scarcely able to speak. "Oh! Kate," I added, as the door closed on him, "am I so very ugly?" "Never mind, child," she answered cheerfully, "bear it bravely." I bore it bravely enough in appearance, but in my heart I repined bitterly. Kate and Cornelius were both deceived, and praised me for my seeming fortitude. I did not leave my room for some time, and had no difficulty in keeping my promise; I never felt tempted to break it; I sickened at the thought of meeting in a glass my own scarred and disfigured face. My only comfort was, that as Miriam came not near me, I was spared the look I should have found it most hard to bear in my humiliation. But I could not delay this moment for ever. One evening, when I knew Miss Russell to be below, Kate, in spite of my entreaties and my tears, insisted on making me go down. I entered the room like a criminal, and without once looking up or around me. I was going straight to the stool by Kate's chair, when Cornelius, who sat on the sofa with Miriam, said, making room for me-- "Daisy, come here." I felt my unhappy face burn with mortification and shame, as I obeyed and sat down by him. He kissed and caressed me very kindly, but though Miriam never turned towards me her face so pale and calm, nor inflicted the look I dreaded, the thought of her secret triumph rendered me dull and joyless. "You don't seem very merry," said Cornelius, stooping to look into my face. "The silly thing is afraid of the looking-glass," pitilessly observed Kate. "Have you really not yet looked at yourself?" asked Cornelius, in a tone of surprise. "No, Cornelius," I replied, in a low voice, "I had promised, you know." "So you had, and you kept your word like a good little girl. Well, I release you--you may look now." I felt in no hurry to avail myself of the permission. "Why don't you look?" he asked, very coolly. "I would rather not," I faltered. "But you must look at yourself some day; better have it over," was his philosophic advice. "Indeed I would much rather not." "Pshaw!" he said, impatiently, "I thought you had more sense." "So did I," observed Kate. I thought it was very easy for them, who were both handsome, to talk of sense to a poor plain girl. "Is it possible," composedly continued Cornelius, "that you mind it? Now, if you find your nose a little damaged, for instance, will it affect you?" "Indeed. Cornelius, I should not like it," was my dismayed reply. "Would you not?" "No, indeed; is there anything the matter with my nose?" "Just give one good, courageous look, and see."