"And then she is so rich, and lives in a grand house; and I am sure she and my cousin will think me a silly little goose!"
Flora thought they might have had some grounds for their opinion, if they had seen Percy in her present mood.
"But I shall have to go, of course, if Aunt Zoe thinks it best," continued Percy, with mournful resignation. "Oh, dear! I thought I was going to have such a nice time in holidays, and now—"
"Well, there, don't cry in the street," said Flora, rather alarmed. "How do you know that you won't have a nice time, as it is? I am sure I think it will be very nice. Does your aunt keep a carriage?"
"Yes!" said Percy, as though Flora had asked, "Does your aunt keep a tame dragon?"
"I dare say she will take you to Central Park, and Greenwood, and everywhere," continued Florry; "and you will see the pretty holiday things in the shops; and I dare say have plenty of nice presents. And oh, Percy, perhaps you can match my worsted for me. Will you try? I do hate to give up my work," said Flora, alluding to a wonderful camp-chair which could not be completed for the want of certain "dead-leaf" greens, which were not to be had even in Millby.
"Of course I will; I like to match worsted," replied Percy, brightening up a little at the prospect of doing something for somebody. "Perhaps Jenny will like to have me do some errand for her."
Percy returned from her walk in a somewhat more cheerful frame of mind, and, by dint of schooling herself severely, was able to be at least resigned, and even cheerful, when Aunt Zoe came up in the stage the next day, to look over her clothes and see what she was likely to want.
"It happens nicely that Aunt Ackerman should have asked you just at this time," remarked Miss Devine; "because I really did want very much to visit Cousin Julia's family once more before they went away West. I should have taken you with me, and Julia would have made you welcome, I am sure; but their house is small; and I don't know how you would have got on with all their noisy big boys."
The thought of the noisy big boys did something to reconcile Percy to the New York visit, and she was able to tell Aunt Zoe with truth that she thought she should like it better than going to Cousin Julia's.