"No," said Bessie, "I'll shake hands with you, but I don't kiss people I don't like."
"Oh!" said Miss Adams, "I suppose you keep all your kisses for your friend, the colonel."
"Oh, no," answered Bessie, "a great many are for papa and mamma, and the yest of the people I like."
Miss Adams saw that the colonel was laughing behind his newspaper, and she was provoked.
"And you don't like me, eh?" she said, sharply. "Don't you know it's very rude to tell a lady you don't like her, and wont kiss her?"
Bessie opened her eyes very wide. "Are you a lady?" she asked, in a tone of great surprise.
Mrs. Rush did not wish to have Miss Adams go on talking to the child, for she was afraid straightforward Bessie would say something which would cause fresh trouble; and she begged Annie Stanton to take her away; but Annie would not; she rather enjoyed the prospect, and when Mrs. Rush would have spoken herself, her husband put out his hand and stopped her.
"A lady!" repeated Miss Adams; "what do you take me for? Don't you know a lady when you see one?"
"Oh, yes," answered Bessie, innocently. "Mamma's a lady, and grandma and Aunt Annie and Mrs. Yush, and ever so many others."