him in detail all about Paula's arrival.

Of course, we were all in high good humor, but I believe I was the happiest
of all, for I certainly loved this newly-arrived cousin of mine and found
her a thousand times finer than I had even imagined.

I said to her once without thinking, "Paula, were you very sorry when you
lost your father?" Teresa looked at me threateningly, but it was too late!
Paula had already heard me and her eyes filled with tears. I would have
given a good deal if I could have recalled my thoughtless words. "Father is
in heaven," said this valiant, young daughter of his. "He suffered much
before he died, but now he is happy indeed! One day I shall go and be with
him there."

Never had I heard such an astonishing statement. Suddenly Teresa exclaimed,
her voice shaking with emotion, "Surely, thou art a daughter of the good
God and our very beloved Paula!"

The three days that followed Paula's arrival were very happy ones for me. I
greatly wanted to take her to school with me, but my father thought that
for a while she would be better in the house, where she could accustom
herself to her new life and be with poor Catalina whose strength diminished
day by day.

In the morning, and at dinner-time, and after school, and in the evening,
we were always together. On my return from school, we took tea together out
of doors. When I had finished my home-work, we would dig together in my
portion of the garden, and then as the summer days were long ones, Teresa
would let us play outside until bed-time.