"You certainly gave me that idea, Aunt Christian. However, I suppose I am wrong, as usual," said Marion, resignedly but mournfully. "It is always my fate to do the wrong thing."
"That is an unlucky fate, certainly," said Mrs. Campbell, dryly. "But now, Lizzy, what can I tell you about Rachel that you will like to hear?"
"Oh, everything," said Lizzy. "Tell me what sort of clothes she wears, please. Are they like ours?"
Mrs. Campbell replied, and the whole party were soon deeply engaged in asking and answering questions.
Marion alone sat silent and constrained, hardly hearing a word that was said, though Doctor Campbell, pitying her embarrassment, made several attempts to include her in the conversation. Marion's thoughts were busy with herself; as usual:
"How could I be so silly? What will Aunt Christian think of me? I might have known it would come out. Oh dear! How unfortunate I always am! Here is Lizzy Gates talking away at her ease and making aunt think she is so sensible and bright, and I sit here looking like a fool. Oh dear! Was there ever any one so unlucky as I am? Everything is sure to go against me. I did so want Aunt Christian to like and appreciate me, and now she never will."
"There! Now you have it right, if you can only remember it," said Lizzy, at last. "I must say I hate to have people in general ask me to show them, but you have learned very quickly. I don't know how long it took me, and I believe poor Marion finally gave the matter up for a bad business, didn't you, Marion?"
"Yes," answered Marion. "I have no taste for fancy-work—at least not for that kind. I can't give my mind to such little matters—I really cannot," said Marion, with an air as if she were apologizing for her own superiority. "I cannot keep my attention fixed upon them; the first I know, my thoughts are at the ends of the earth."
"That is rather unfortunate," said Doctor Campbell. "Is it only in such little things that you find that difficulty?"
"I don't find it in things that interest me," answered Marion; "but I must confess I do hate drudgery."