“You must stay at home to-night, Letty,” said Jem.
“May I, mamma? I am to be sent for later; but may I not send a message that Miss Bethia has come, and that you cannot spare me?”
“But I can spare you all the better that Miss Bethia is here,” said her mother, smiling.
“Yes, I know mamma; but I want to stay so much.”
“You would not think it polite in her to go away to-night? Now, would you? Aunt Bethia,” said Jem.
“Politeness ain’t the only thing to think of,” said Miss Bethia.
“Violet is not quite at our disposal just now,” said Mrs Inglis; “and I am afraid you will be missed up there, dear, by the children. They have had the fever, too, poor little things, and their sister is away, and they hardly know this aunt yet, and Violet has charge of them. They are fond of Violet.”
“Oh, yes! they are all fond of Violet up there; but so are we,” said Jem. “Let her stay, mamma.”
“And how do you like earning your living?” asked Miss Bethia.
Violet laughed.