Kate Danton | Page 6

great chandelier. An
instant later, and a loud knock made the house ring, and Babette flung
the front door wide open. A stalwart gentleman, buttoned up in a
great-coat, with a young lady on his aim, strode in.
"Quite a Canadian baptism, papa," the silvery voice of the young lady
said; "I am almost drenched."

Grace heard this, and caught a glimpse of Captain Danton's man,
Ogden, gallanting a pretty, rosy girl, who looked like a lady's maid, and
then, very, very pale, advanced to meet her master and his daughter.
"My dear Miss Grace," the hearty voice of the sailor said, as he grasped
her hand, "I am delighted to see you. My daughter Kate, Miss Grace."
My daughter Kate bowed in a dignified manner, scarcely looking at her.
Her eyes were fixed on a smaller, slighter figure shrinking behind her.
"Hallo, Eeny!" cried the Captain, catching her in his arms; "trying to
play hide-and-go-seek, are you? Come out and let us have a look at
you."
He held her up over his head as if she had been a kitten, and kissed her
as he set her down, laughing and breathless.
"You little whiff of thistle-down, why can't you get fat and rosy as you
ought? There, kiss your sister Kate, and bid her welcome."
Eeny looked timidly up, and was mesmerized at one glance. Two
lovely eyes of starry radiance looked down into hers, and the loveliest
face Eeny ever saw was lighted with a bewitching smile. Two arms
were held out, and Eeny sprang into them, and kissed the exquisite face
rapturously.
"You darling child!" the sweet voice said, and that was all; but she held
her close, with tears in the starry eyes.
"There, there!" cried Captain Danton; "that will do. You two can hug
each other at your leisure by-and-by; but just at present I am very
hungry, and should like some dinner. The dining-room is in this
direction, isn't it, Grace? I think I know the way."
He disappeared, and Kate Danton disengaged her new-found sister, still
holding her hand.
"Come and show me to my room, Eeny," she said. "Eunice," to the rosy

lady's-maid, "tell Ogden to bring up the trunks and unpack at once.
Come."
Still holding her sister's hand, Kate went upstairs, and Eeny had eyes
and ears for no one else. Eunice gave her young lady's order to Ogden,
and followed, and Grace was left standing alone.
"Already," she thought, bitterly, "already I am forgotten!"
Not quite. Captain Danton appeared at the head of the stairs, divested
of his great-coat.
"I say, Ogden. Oh, Miss Grace, will you come upstairs, if you please?
Ogden, attend to the luggage, and wait for me in my dressing-room."
He returned to the parlour, and Grace found him standing with his back
to the fire when she entered. A portly and handsome man, florid and
genial, with profuse fair hair, mustache and side-whiskers. He placed a
chair for her, courteously, and Grace sat down.
"You are looking pale, Miss Grace," he said, regarding her. "You have
not been ill, I trust. Ogden told me you were all well."
"I am quite well, thank you."
"You wrote to Rose, I suppose? Where is it she has gone?"
"To the house of Miss La Touche; a friend of hers, in Ottawa. Eeny has
written to her, and Rose will probably be here in a day or two, at most."
The Captain nodded.
"As for you, my dear young lady, I find you have managed so
admirably in my absence, that I trust we shall retain you for many years
yet. Perhaps I am selfish in the wish, but it comes so naturally that you
will pardon the selfishness. Kate is in total ignorance of the mysteries
of housekeeping. Heaven help me and my friends if we had to depend
on her catering! Besides," laughing slightly, "some one is coming
before long to carry her off."

Grace bowed gravely.
"So you see, my fair kinswoman, you are indispensable. I trust we shall
prevail upon you to remain."
"If you wish me to do so, Captain Danton, I shall, certainly."
"Thank you. Is that rich old curmudgeon, your uncle, alive yet?"
"Yes, sir."
"And your brother? In Germany still, I suppose."
"No, sir; my brother is in Canada--in St. Croix. He was here this
evening."
"Indeed! Where is he stopping? We must get him to come here."
"He is on a visit to M. le Curé, and I do not think means to stay long."
The door opened as she said it, and Kate and Eeny came in. The sisters
had their arms around each other's waist, and Eeny seemed entranced.
Kate went over and stood beside her father, looking up fondly in his
face.
"How pretty the rooms are,