"How the gentlemen are enjoying themselves!" said placidly one of the knitting ladies.
The dark little girl continued to ponder the omission from the library. "Aunt Serena—"
"Yes, Hagar."
"Is it like 'Tom Jones'?"
"'Tom Jones'! What do you know about 'Tom Jones'?"
"Grandfather was reading it one day and laughing, and after he had done with it I got it down from the top shelf and asked him if I might read it, and he said, 'No, certainly not! it isn't a book for ladies.'"
"Your grandfather was quite right. You read entirely too much anyway. Dr. Bude told your mother so."
The little girl turned large, alarmed eyes upon her. "I don't read half as much as I used to. I don't read except just a little time in the morning and evening and after supper. It would kill me if I couldn't read—"
"Well, well," said Miss Serena, "I suppose we shall continue to spoil you!"