“Is that you, my dear little Florence, or only your apparition?”
Florence looked up. “Oh, my dear Cousin Fanny!” she exclaimed; and, springing to the carriage, she was up on the step in an instant, and showering kisses enough on her relative to convince her of her identity.
“I was on my way to call on you,” said Miss Fanny, as soon as she could take breath after her little cousin’s ardent embrace.
“I’ll go back at once, then, for I don’t want to lose your visit.”
“No,” said the young lady, “I have a better plan than that. Who is that with you?”
“Miss Winthrop, and my best friend, Carrie Stanley.”
“Miss Winthrop,” said the stranger, with a most bewitching smile, “will you not allow me to take my little cousin and her friend out for a short drive?”
Miss Winthrop hesitated.
“Oh, I’ll make it all right with Mr. Worcester. I know him very well. Tell him, if you please, that Miss Montague will be responsible for the safe return of his pupils. Jump in, girls. It is not so very long since Miss Winthrop and I have been school-girls ourselves; and we know what a treat a drive is.”
Miss Winthrop smiled pleasantly.