"Oh, you poor fatherless child!" she cried. "Do you think I could mind dividing my savings with Dick West's child? He was a bonny lad, was Dick! I always loved him, although he was no real kin to me, and only my husband's brother." Leonora's eyes shone very bright now through the tears that filled them. "Oh, Aunt West, you will love me too a little, then--for poor papa's sake!" she cried, and Mrs. West answered, with sudden warmth and tenderness: "Indeed I will, dear. You shall be like my own daughter to me." A moment later she added, ruefully: "I'm sorry I could not have a nicer room for you, Leonora. But, you see, I thought this would do very well for a child." "Oh, indeed, it does not matter in the least. I shall not stay in it much. I shall be out-of-doors nearly all the time." CHAPTER XVIII. Leonora spoke in such a composed, matter-of-fact tone that she was surprised at its effect upon her aunt. The good lady uttered an exclamation almost amounting to terror, and stood regarding her niece with such a rueful and amazed face that the girl burst into a peal of sweet, high-pitched laughter. "Oh, my dear aunt," she cried, as she vigorously brushed out her thick plaits of hair into loose, shining ripples over her shoulders, "what have I said to shock you so?" "I'm not shocked, my dear," said the good soul, recovering herself, with a gasp. "What put such an idea in your head? But what did you say, child," anxiously, "about being out all day?" "I said it didn't matter about the room, as I didn't expect to stay in it much. I love fresh air, Aunt West, and I shall be out-doors nearly all the time." "I'm afraid that won't do here, my love," suggested the housekeeper, timidly. "Why not?" said Leonora, amazed; then she colored, and said, demurely: "Oh, yes, I understand now. You can not spare me. I shall have to help work for my living." "No, you shall not," indignantly; "I did not mean that at all. I should be mean if I thought of such a thing. But there's Lady Lancaster. She wouldn't like it." A pretty little frown came between Leonora's straight, dark brows. "Wouldn't you like me to go out-doors? Is that what you mean?" she asked, and when Mrs. West answered "Yes," she said, angrily and decidedly: "Lady Lancaster has nothing to do with my movements, and I don't suppose she will grudge me a breath of God's free air and sunshine even if I walk in her grounds to obtain them." "But I promised her--" said Mrs. West, then paused bashfully. "I hope you didn't promise her to bury me alive in this musty little chamber, at all events," said the girl, with an irreverent glance around her. "Yes, I did. At least I promised to keep you out of her sight. She does not like children." "I'm not a child," said Leonora, looking her tallest.