“Perhaps she is upbraiding Salemina for kidnapping her when she was insensible.”
“Perhaps she is relating her life history; if it is a sad one, Salemina is adopting her legally at this moment.”
“Perhaps she is one of Mr. Beresford's wards, and has come over to complain of somebody's ill treatment.”
Here Salemina entered, looking flushed and embarrassed. We thought it a bad sign that she could not meet our eyes without confusion, but I made room for her on the sofa, and Francesca drew her chair closer.
“She is from Salem,” began the poor dear; “she has never been out of Massachusetts in her life.”
“Unfortunate girl!” exclaimed Francesca, adding prudently, as she saw Salemina's rising colour, “though of course if one has to reside in a single state, Massachusetts offers more compensations than any other.”
“She knows every nook and corner in the place,” continued Salemina; “she has even seen the house where I was born, and her name is Benella Dusenberry.”
“Impossible!” cried Francesca. “Dusenberry is unlikely enough, but who ever heard of such a name as Benella! It sounds like a flavouring extract.”
“She came over to see the world, she says.”
“Oh! then she has money?”