‘Aunt Ada! Oh, I thought—’
‘What did you think, Gill?’ said Aunt Jane, coming from the grass-plat suddenly on them.
‘Oh, Aunt Jane, I am so glad!’ cried Gillian. ‘I thought’—and she blushed furiously.
‘They made asses of themselves,’ said Jasper.
‘They said it was you,’ added Mysie. ‘Miss Mellon told Miss Elbury,’ she added in excuse.
‘Me? No, I thank you! So you are glad, Gillian?’
‘Oh yes, aunt! I couldn’t have borne for you to do anything—queer’—and there was a look in Gillian’s face that went to Jane’s heart, and under other circumstances would have produced a kiss, but she rallied to her line of defence.
‘My dear, you must not call this queer. Mr. White is very much attached to your aunt Ada, and I think he will make her very happy, and give her great opportunities of doing good.’
‘That’s just what Gillian said when she was afraid it was you,’ said Mysie. ‘I suppose that’s it? And that makes it real right.’
‘And the golden stoppers!’ said Valetta innocently, but almost choking Jasper with laughter, which must be suppressed before his aunt.