The next thing of which Miss Perry was conscious was that a pair of fat arms were hugging her and that she was being kissed in a very vigorous manner.
“How like your mother to be sure,” said Mrs. Bateman, “and what a big girl you’ve grown!”
“Too big, in my opinion, for good service,” said Mrs. Plunket.
“You can’t have too much of a good thing, can you, my love?” said Mrs. Bateman.
Miss Perry was bewildered. Mrs. Bateman was not in the least like the Aunt Caroline she had expected to see.
“Are you r-r-really Aunt Caroline?” she said, with her eyes at their widest.
“You must be Sally,” said Mrs. Bateman, “little Sally Dickinson who used to be so fond of sugar.”
“It appears to have been a stimulating diet,” said Mrs. Plunket.
“Little Sally Dickinson who didn’t like to go to bed early,” said Mrs. Bateman. “Law, how you’ve grown, my dear!”
“My name is Araminta Perry,” said that wonderful person with slow-drawn solemnity.