Mildred's cheek crimsoned. "Aunt Wealthy!" she exclaimed, "do you—do you really think he cares for me in that way? Oh I hope not. Aunt Dinsmore said something of the sort, but I hoped she was mistaken."
Miss Stanhope's only answer was a meaning smile and a slight shake of the head.
"Then, Aunt Wealthy, you must help me to avoid being left alone with him!" cried Mildred in a tone of apprehension and annoyance; "and I do hope there will always be other passengers in the boats and stages, so that he will have no chance to say a word."
"I'll do what I can, child; cling as close to me as you will, but you may rest assured he is bound to speak and have it out with you, sooner or later."
"He shall not if I can prevent him. How can he be so extremely silly! But indeed, Aunt Wealthy, I think you must be mistaken. He surely has too much sense to fancy me."
"You won't be rude, Milly? you won't forget the respect due to him as your minister?"
"Not if I can help it. Aunt Wealthy, you must help me by not leaving us alone together for a single moment."
"But, my dear, how are my household affairs to be attended to?"
"When we are all together and you want to leave the room, just clear your throat and give me a look, and I'll go first. Then you can readily excuse yourself on the plea of domestic matters calling for your attention; and he may amuse himself with a newspaper or a book until we rejoin him."
Miss Stanhope laughingly agreed to the proposed programme, and they carried it out during the whole visit.