"You know you are quite too obstinate, Katherine," she said, as the sisters-in-law sat together in the drawing-room, waiting for the cool of the evening before venturing out. "You never came to me all through the season except once, when you wanted to shop, and now you refuse to join us at Castleford in September, when we are to have really quite a nice party: Mr. De Burgh and Lord Riversdale and—oh! several really good men."
"I dare say I do seem stupid to you, but then, you see, I know what I want. You are very good to wish for me. Next year I shall be very pleased to pay you a visit."
"Then what in the world will you do in the winter?"
"Remain where I am—I mean with Miss Payne—and look out for a house for myself."
"But, my dear, you are much too young to live alone."
"I am twenty-one now; I shall be twenty-two by the time I am settled in a house of my own. And, Ada, I am going to ask you a favor. Lend me your boys to complete my respectability."
"What! for altogether? Why, Katherine, you will marry, and—"
"Well, suppose I do, that need not prevent my having the comfort of my nephews' company until the fatal knot is tied."
"Now, dear Katherine, do tell me—are you engaged to any one? Not a foreigner?—anything but a foreigner!"
"At present," said Katherine, with some solemnity, "I am engaged to two young men."