"I never went so much out of my way to ask any one to stay in my house before," she said.
"Dear aunt! don't be angry with me."
"Oh no! I'm not angry. Here we are. Will you get out first?"
Whereupon Lady Ball descended from the carriage, and walked into the house with a good deal of dignity.
"What a wicked old woman she was!" virtuous readers will say; "what a wicked old woman to endeavour to catch that poor old maid's fortune for her son!"
But I deny that she was in any degree a wicked old woman on that score. Why should not the two cousins marry, and do very well together with their joint means? Lady Ball intended to make a baronet's wife of her. If much was to be taken, was not much also to be given?
"You are going to stay, are you not?" Jack said to her that evening, as he wished her good-night. She was very fond of Jack, who was a nice-looking, smooth-faced young fellow, idolised by his sisters over whom he tyrannised, and bullied by his grandfather, before whom he quaked.
"I'm afraid not, Jack; but you shall come and see me at Littlebath, if you will."
"I should like it, of all things; but I do wish you'd stay: the house is so much nicer when you are in it!"
But of course she could not stay at the request of the young lad, when she had refused the request of the lad's grandmother.