“Yes, as often as not,” said Miss Seyton. “You are welcome to arrange all such matters for yourself. Girls have ways of their own.”
“I don’t want to have any strange or uncomfortable ways, auntie,” said Virginia; “I want to feel quite at home, and to be useful.”
“Useful!” said Miss Seyton. “What’s your notion of being useful?”
She did not speak unkindly, but with a curious sort of inward amusement, as if the notions of the bright-eyed girl were an odd study to her.
“I’m afraid I haven’t very clear notions. I want to make it cheerful for papa—Aunt Mary always said he wasn’t strong or well; and perhaps the boys want things done for them; my friends’ brothers always did,” said Virginia a little pathetically.
“There’s one thing, my dear, I wish you to understand at once. I shall never interfere with you; but I don’t mean to abdicate in your favour. I keep house—whatever house is kept—and you’d better shut your eyes and ears to it. It isn’t work for you.”
“Oh, Aunt Julia!” said Virginia distressed, “I would not think of such a thing. It is your place.”
“No, my dear, it’s not; but I mean to stick to it,” interposed Miss Seyton.
“And I know nothing about housekeeping, I’m afraid. I should be very extravagant.”
“Like a true Seyton. So much for that, then. And now another thing. Don’t you ever give your brothers so much as a half-sovereign secretly. You have money, and they know it, and it’s scarce here. Mind what I say.”