“I have no doubt of it,” said Hesper, “but then every one has their own choice you know.”
“Of course,” replied aunt Betsey, “but it may be a mighty foolish choice though, if ‘tis one’s own. There are some people who don’t know what is for their good half so well as others can tell them, and so they often make grievous mistakes, which, with a little advice, they might have avoided. Now if Mose had only asked me, I should have said Juliana, by all means. Just think, Hesper, how handsome she is! why, there isn’t a girl in the village that will compare with her!”
“It is true,” replied Hesper, “that Juliana is very handsome—much more so than Alice; but then Mose don’t think much of beauty.”
“I think he does though,” returned aunt Betsey, “but it’s of a peculiar kind. The beauty of the doctor’s purse is far more attractive than his daughter’s countenance.”
Hesper bit her lips quickly to keep from answering, for she was greatly vexed.
“Now, as far as you and Harry are concerned,” continued aunt Betsey, “I have not a word to say. You are well matched, and I suppose, by what I hear, that he has quite a snug little fortune laid up, by this time. Let’s see; you are expecting him home before long, ain’t you?”
“I should not be surprised to hear of his arrival at any time,” replied Hesper, quietly.
“Dear me!” resumed aunt Betsey, “what a time his mother will make! She thinks so much of her Harry. Don’t you think! the other day she really undertook to pity me, because I had no children! Why, it was perfectly ridiculous! for the Searcher of Hearts knows, that I never desired them.”
Just then, in rushed Bose like a mad creature—he jumped—he howled, he barked, and then laid down on the floor and rolled with all his might.
“Mercy me!” exclaimed aunt Betsey, as she sprang upon the dining table and drew her dress close about her—“The creature is certainly mad! Hesper, put your head out of the window, and scream for help as loud as you can!”