"What a child you are! And what a colour your cheeks and lips
are!" she said. "You are much--much prettier than Helene, my dear."
She got up and brought a picture from a side table to show it to
her.
"I think she is lovely," she said. "Is it became I am her mother?"
"Oh, no! Not because you are her mother!" exclaimed Robin. "She is
angelic!"
She was rather angelic, with her delicate uplifted face and her
communion veil framing it mistily.
The picture was placed near them and Robin looked at is many times
as they took their tea. To be a companion to a girl with a face
like that would be almost too much to ask of one's luck. There
was actual yearning in Robin's heart. Suddenly she realized that
she had missed something all her life, without knowing that she
missed it. It was the friendly nearness of youth like her own.
How she hoped that she might make Lady Etynge like her. After tea
was over, Lady Etynge spoke pleasantly to Fraulein Hirsch.
"I know that you wanted to register a letter. There is a post-office
just around the corner. Would you like to go and register it while
I take Miss Gareth-Lawless upstairs? You have seen the rooms. You
will only be away a few minutes."
Fraulein Hirsch was respectfully appreciative again. The letter
really was important. It contained money which she sent monthly
to her parents. This month she was rather late, and she would be
very glad to be allowed to attend to the matter without losing a
post.
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