Miss Baby and her father both sympathized in Marion's delight over her pretty present.
"I really think we must send Marie to Hemlock valley for a visit when school is out, father," said Baby. "It is a shame she should not know her brothers better."
"I am sure I should like to go, though the Van Alstine boys don't seem the least like my brothers," said Marion, "any more than Mr. Van Alstine does like my father. I don't approve at all of second marriages, do you, Aunt Christian? It seems so heartless, somehow."
"You can hardly expect me to be a fair judge of that matter, all things considered," said Aunt Christian, laughing and colouring.
And then only did Marion remember that Aunt Christian was both a second wife and the child of a second marriage.
"Never mind, Marion dear you meant no harm," said Christian, perceiving and pitying Marion's embarrassment. "Everybody does such things sometimes. It isn't half so bad as asking a Turkish gentleman after his wife and family, and I did that once."
"Why shouldn't you?" asked Baby.
"Oh, it is a dreadful breach of etiquette. I knew better, too; it was sheer carelessness on my part. I have the poor man's photograph, and will show it to you. I always fancy the picture looks at me with something of the same expression of consternation. You should have seen old Doctor G. look at me."
Marion was diverted from her mistake for the time, as Aunt Christian meant she should be. She felt, as every one did who met Mrs. Campbell, the indescribable charm of perfect good breeding. But more than once during the evening she turned scarlet with shame as she remembered the blunder she had made.
"How true it is that in the most festive scene there shines an undertone of sadness! Even in our joyful meeting the serpent of disappointment lurked in the brimming goblet. But such is the lot of man." So wrote Marion in her journal that night. She did not say what was the particular serpent in this case. Perhaps it was the fact that an uncle who resembled a duke should be short and red haired.