“My dear,” she said, faltering, “what would be the use of going home when your papa is going away? Much better stay with me, if you can make up your mind to the quiet. We are so very quiet here.” “But you said Christmas,” said Kate, who was a little mortified, and did not choose to be unavenged. “I said--I was thinking--I meant you to understand---- Oh! what is it, Lizzie?” cried Mrs Mitford, eagerly, as the maid came to the door. “Widow Blake?--oh yes, I am coming;” and she went away but too gladly to escape the explanation. Then there was nobody left in the drawing-room but Kate alone with John. The girl turned her eyes upon him with their surprised ingenuous look, and then with profound gravity addressed him: “Mr John, tell me--you know what is best for her better than I do. Is it not convenient to have me now?” “Convenient!” cried the young man; “how is such a word to be applied to you? It could never be but a delight to all of us----” “Oh, hush, hush,” said Kate; “don’t pay me any compliments. You know I am only a stranger, though somehow I feel as if you all belonged to me. It is because your mother has been so kind; and then--you saved my life.” “That was nothing,” cried John; “I wish it had cost me something, then I might have felt as if I deserved----” “What? my thanks?” she said, softly, playing with him. “No, but to have saved you--for I did save you; though it did not cost me anything,” he said, regretfully; “and that is what I shall grudge all my life.” “How very droll you are!” said Kate, after a long look at him, in which she tried to fathom what he meant without succeeding; “but never mind what it cost you. My opinion is, that, after such a thing as that, people become a sort of relations--don’t you think so? and you are bound to tell me when I ask you. Please, Mr John, is it convenient for your mother to have me now?--should I stay now? I shall be guided by what you say.” He gave an abrupt idiotic laugh, and got up and walked about the room. “Of course you must stay,” he said; “of course it is convenient. What could it be else? It would be cruel to leave us so abruptly, after all.” “Well, I am very comfortable,” said Kate; “I shall like it. The only thing was for your mother. If she should not want me to stay--but anyhow, the responsibility is upon you now; and so, as Dr Mitford says, as we have settled that, tell me what we are going to do.” “To do?” said John, with open eyes. “To amuse ourselves,” said Kate; “for I am a stranger, you know. How can I tell how you amuse yourselves in this house?”