Leonard believed her. He could not[Pg 488] recollect the incident, but he believed it had been as she said.
“Sit down, Aunt Jean,” he said firmly.
“Aunt!” said she. “Deary, I will not forget this sweetness!”
Still in tears, she sat down, and so did Leonard, but the others remained standing.
“Boys!” she said. “I’m all kind of fluttery.” She paused. “Boys!” she said solemnly. “How are things with you?”
“Bad,” replied Leonard, promptly.
“Oh, no!” Evan chivalrously declared. “I’m married—”
“A sweet, lovely woman!” said Aunt Jean, looking at Marian. “I can see that; but—” She glanced about the neat, quiet little room. “Boys!” she said. “I know!”
There was something so portentous, so mysterious in her manner that Evan glanced behind him, as if a specter had thrown a shadow.
“This is not what you’ve been accustomed to,” she went on. “This is not what you ought to have. No, sir! Servants to wait on you hand and foot, and a fine house and all—that’s what you ought to have; and that’s what you’re going to have! That’s just what I came for!”