As if fearful lest her own age should come next under consideration, Miss Eudora hastened to say:
"Yes, Mrs. Johnson does look very young, and Alice seems like a child. Such beautiful hair as she has. It used to be a bright yellow, or golden, but now it has a darker, richer shade, while her eyes are the softest, handsomest blue."
Alice Johnson was evidently a favorite, and this stamped her somebody, so John began to ask who the Johnsons were.
Mrs. Richards seemed disposed to answer, which she did as follows:
"Mrs. Johnson used to live in Boston, and her husband was grandson of old Governor Johnson."
"Ah, yes," and John began to laugh. "I see now what gives Miss Alice's hair that peculiar shade, and her eyes that heavenly blue; but go on, mother, and give her figure as soon as may be."
"What do you mean?" asked Anna. "I should suppose you'd care more for her face than her form."
John smiled mischievously, while his mother continued:
"I fancy that Mrs. Johnson's family met with a reverse of fortune before her marriage. I do not see her as often as I would like to, for I am greatly pleased with her, although she has some habits of which I cannot approve. Why, I hear that Alice had a party the other day consisting-wholly of ragged urchins."
"They were her Sabbath school scholars," interposed Anna.