“You see, aunty,” said Ladybird, when she heard of Humphreys’s acceptance of this invitation,—“you see I am not such a fool as I look.”
“Which is fortunate for us all,” said Miss Priscilla, grimly.
“Quite so,” said Ladybird, serenely; “for I know sometimes I do look and act most exceeding foolish. But I suppose that is because I am really a Flint.”
Whereupon, for some inexplicable reason, Miss Priscilla kissed her.
CHAPTER XVIII
LAVINIA LOVELL
It must be that the exception proves the rule, for though the love of Chester Humphreys and Stella Russell was undoubtedly true, its course ran smooth.
One afternoon in August, Stella, Chester, and Ladybird sat out in the orchard.
“Now that you two are engaged,” said Ladybird, “if you wish, I will go away and leave you to your own self.”
“Don’t bother, Ladybird,” said Chester; “understand once for all that when we wish to be left to our own ‘self,’ we will either arrange it cleverly and unostentatiously, or else ask you frankly to take your departure.”
“Then that’s settled,” said Ladybird, leaning comfortably against a tree-trunk; “you are really the nicest engaged couple I ever knew.”