My aunt stared.
"Of the Jesuits, of course—what else? But I forget, you know nothing of these matters. My poor brother-in-law! Ah, what a pity he was so obstinate! But we will not talk of that now," catching a warning glance from her husband. "Tell me, petite, how old art thou?"
I told her.
"And they have not yet settled thee in life? Ah well, so much the better. And now what shall we do to amuse you?"
I could not help thinking my aunt very charming, in spite of the rouge which had so shocked me at first. She had all the brightness and sparkle, all the grace of manner of a genuine French woman, and when she desired to please she was certainly irresistible. She set to work at once to reform my dress, and the manner of wearing my hair, exchanging with her waiting-damsel many comments upon my good looks. Then she would turn out all her jewels for my amusement, and bestowed several elegant trifles upon me, besides a box of beautiful perfumed gloves.
"I will divide these with Aunt Jemima," said I; "she has beautiful hands."
"Nay, keep them for yourself, I have a little cadeau for the good aunt—what did you call her?"
"Jemima," I replied.
"Ah, what a horror of a name! But no matter, so she is kind to thee."
And my aunt began, while displaying all her fans and other trinkets, to question me about my own affairs. My uncle, who came in, soon joined in the conversation, and by easy degrees, and almost without knowing it, they won from me my whole family history, from beginning to end.