"Perhaps you may feel differently when you have a house of your own."
"Well, that's one of the things Mr. MacJacobs and I quarrel about. I want to board, and he wants to take a flat. I tell him I'll do that, if he'll get one where we can dine at the table d'hote. That's about as easy as boarding. As like as not, when we get settled, he'll have to go off somewhere else; but if he is willing to pay for it himself, why, let him! Here's Aunt Delia," she suddenly added, as a fresh rustle announced the entrance of a stout lady, also very handsomely attired, and carrying a large fan, which she waved to and fro, slowly but steadily, gazing silently over it at her visitor, whom Minnie introduced with some explanation, after which she remarked that it was "awfully hot."
"It is warm; but I have not found it unpleasant. I really enjoyed my walk here."
"Did you walk?" asked her hostess, with more interest.
"Oh, yes; it is not more than a mile here from the church; and the parsonage is but a step farther."
"A mile!"
"I am very glad," said Mrs. Reed, well trained, as became her position, in the art of filling gaps in talk, and striking out on new lines, "to find you at home, and Miss—I beg your pardon, but I have not heard your niece's name. Mr. Reed thought she was your daughter."
"Oh, Minnie isn't my niece!" exclaimed the hostess, laughing, as if roused to some sense of amusement, which Minnie shared; "she's an adopted daughter of Mr. Webb's second wife!"
"My name's Minnie Webb, though pa never approved of it, and when he married again, we thought it would be easier to say Aunt Delia, to distinguish her from ma, you know."
Mrs. Reed paused before these complicated relationships, and skilfully executed another tack; "I hope you find it pleasant here."