“Nieces, do you like it? Could you suggest any change in it?”
“It is simply perfect as it is,” said Grace warmly, while not to be outdone by Grace, Jenny added with a sigh, “Nothing could improve it, I’m sure.”
Aunt Betty looked at Ruth, who was covered with confusion, but she stammered, “I seem to be the only one to find fault to-day, but indeed, auntie—if you want my honest opinion”—
“I do,” said Aunt Betty, with a smile.
“Well then—couldn’t you—couldn’t you put on a white spread instead of that gay one? That doesn’t seem to suit the beautiful room.”
Aunt Betty smiled again. “Take it off, then, and let’s see!”
Ruth pulled off the spread, and there under it was a dainty lace one as exquisite as the rest of the room.
“I guess we’ll keep it off,” said Aunt Betty, “though Jenny and Grace seem to like it well enough; it certainly is an improvement.”
Aunt Betty’s manner was so peculiar as she said this, that the two girls who had sacrificed truthfulness to please her, began to suspect that there was more in it than they had thought; they were both rather silent when they returned to the sitting-room and Aunt Betty began:—
“Nieces, I have a little plan to tell you about, though possibly you may have suspected it”—with a sharp look at the two guilty ones. “Perhaps you have heard that I have decided, by the advice of my physician, to take one of you to live with me—provided you and your parents are willing, of course. I shall ask a good deal of the one I select, but I shall try to make it up to her. I shall formally adopt her as my own, and, of course, make a distinction in her favor in my will. I shall ask a good deal of her time and attention; but I shall not live forever, and when I am gone, she will be independent, and able to make her own life.”