Page:Shirley (1849 Volume 2).djvu/316

 "Well!" said he, smiling at her questioning, astonished face, "which is which?"

"Ah! this is you!" was the answer.

He laughed. "I believe it is me: and do you know who he is? You never saw him before; but you have heard of him."

She had gathered her senses now.

"It can be only one person: your brother, since it is so like you: my other cousin, Louis."

"Clever little Œdipus!—you would have baffled the Sphynx!—but now, see us together. Change places. Change again, to confuse her, Louis.—Which is the old love now, Lina?"

"As if it were possible to make a mistake when you speak! You should have told Hortense to ask. But you are not so much alike; it is only your height, your figure, and complexion that are so similar."

"And I am Robert, am I not?" asked the new comer, making a first effort to overcome what seemed his natural shyness.

Caroline shook her head gently. A soft, expressive ray from her eye beamed on the real Robert: it said much.

She was not permitted to quit her cousins soon: Robert himself was peremptory in obliging her to remain. Glad, simple, and affable in her demeanour (glad for this night, at least), in light, bright spirits