But such a
smile flooded Cosmo's face, mingled with such a pleading look of
apology and excuse, which seemed to say, "How _could_ I help
it?" that she was ashamed of herself. It was the same true face as
the boy's, with its old look of devotion and gentle worship! To
make all right she stooped of her own accord, and kissed his
forehead.
"Thank you," murmured Cosmo, his own voice sounding to him like
that of another. "Don't be vexed with me. I am but a baby, and have
no mother. When I saw you, it was as if heaven had come down into
hell, and I did not think to help it. How beautiful you are! How
good of you to come to me!"
"Oh, Cosmo!" cried Lady Joan--and now large silent tears were
running down her cheeks--"to think of the way you and your father
took me and mine in, and here you have been lying ill--I don't know
how long--in a place not fit for a beggar!"
"That's just what I am!" returned Cosmo with a smile, feeling
already almost well. "I have such a long story to tell you, Joan! I
remember all about it now."
"Why didn't you write,--?" said Joan, and checked herself, for
alas! if he had written, what would she not have found herself
compelled to do!--"Why didn't you send for me at once? They told me
there was a young gardener lying ill, and of course I never dreamed
it could be you. But I know if you had heard at Castle Warlock that
a stranger was lying ill somewhere about the place, you would have
gone to him at once! It was very wrong of me, and I am sorely
punished!"
"Never mind," said Cosmo; "it's all right now.
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