She made no answer to this, but presently, addressing me directly, said:
"You were a long time in the house before you expressed a wish to see
me."

I found my speech then--a wretched, hesitating speech, for which I hated
myself--and replied, that I had asked to be allowed to see her as soon
as I had been informed of her existence.

She turned on the father a look of surprise and inquiry.

"You must remember, Chastel," said he, "that he comes to us from some
strange, distant island, having customs different from ours--a thing I
had never heard of before. I can give you no other explanation."

Her lip curled, and then, turning to me, she continued: "If there are
houses in your island without mothers in them, it is not so elsewhere in
the world. That you went out to travel so poorly provided with knowledge
is a marvel to us; and as I have had the pain of telling you this, I
must regret that you ever left your own home."

I could make no reply to these words, which fell on me like
whip-strokes; and looking at the other faces, I could see no sympathy in
them for me; as they looked at her--their mother--and listened to her
words, the expression they wore was love and devotion to her only,
reminding me a little of the angel faces on Guide's canvas of the
"Coronation of the Virgin."

"Go now," she presently added in a petulant tone; "I am tired, and wish
to rest"; and Yoletta, who had been standing silently by me all the
time, took my hand and led me from the room.