"Oh, he did! And what--?" She gave a swallow to restrain her impatience. "What did you say to him, Aunt Abby? Have you answered the letter?" This was very demurely said.
"Yes. Of course, I wrote him not to come. I preferred that he should not come."
Could she have but seen Lois's face!
"Oh, you did!"
"Yes. I want no hypocrites around me." Her head was up and her cap was bristling. "I came very near telling him so, too. I told him that I had it from good authority that he had not behaved in altogether the most gentlemanly way--consorting openly with a hussy on the street! I think he knows whom I referred to."
"But, Aunt Abby, I do not know that she was. I only heard she was," defended Lois.
"Who told you?"
"Mr. Wickersham."
"Well, he knows," said Miss Abigail, with decision. "Though I think he had very little to do to discuss such matters with you."
"But, Aunt Abby, I think you had better have let him come. We could have shown him our disapproval in our manner. And possibly he might have some explanations?"