"One for me! But he is a good fellow, and I fancy you are not the only Miss Stanley who thinks so."
"How slippery it is! You turn off here, I think, to go to Professor Hammerstone's, do you not? I hope you will not be late. Thanks for carrying my music; I will take it now."
"But I mean to carry your music all the way, Miss Muriel. As I told you, I am going to look in on my three aunts at breakfast, and ask them for a cup of hot coffee. That will have a good effect on my aunt Judy, who I fear suspects me of being not very steady. She is a great promoter of coffee taverns. Tried to start one at St. Euphrase, I believe, and had to drink all the coffee herself because the habitants would not buy it. She will say I am an improving character if I ask for a cup of coffee."
When Muriel had finished her music lesson and was resuming her gloves and cloud, she found herself caught from behind by a pair of short fat arms in a sort of hug, accompanied by a little scream of enthusiasm.
"Muriel! And were you going away without ever asking to see me?"
Muriel turned in surprise. "Betsey Bunce! But I did not know you were in town till an hour ago. You know you never wrote."
"Wrote! What is there to write about at St. Euphrase?--unless I were to walk up to the farm and ask Bruneau about your cows and chickens. But you knew an hour ago, you say, and yet you were going away without asking for me. I call it real unkind."
"It is only ten o'clock, you know--far too early an hour for calling."
"You are so particular! Just like an old woman--and a stiff old-country woman, too--Miss Penelope all over."
"I hope so. Aunt Penelope is always right."