Aunt Matilda paused for a sigh and fixed her eyes in sad reminiscence upon a little clump of ferns that, full of conceit, were waving incessant salutes at their dainty reflections in the water.
"Hang the story of her life!" muttered the miserable youth in the pool. His teeth were beginning to chatter.
"Do go on, aunty!" cried the eager Adnah.
"Well, child, they were all alike. Having insinuated their way into our confidences by agreeable manners and by their really indisputable attractiveness, having aroused the beginnings of tender emotions, what did these young men do, one and all? Why, instead of waiting until the acquaintance had ripened into mutual undying affection and then falling gracefully to their knees with honorable proposals of marriage, they one and all chose what seemed to be favorable moments and strove, by cajolery or stealth or even force, to kiss us. To kiss us!"
"Gracious!" exclaimed Adnah.
There was a moment's silence. The young man in the pool could feel the goose-flesh pimpling between his shoulder blades.
"After all, though, it might not have been so very dreadful," finally commented Adnah, after a thoughtful sigh.
"Adnah!" cried the horrified Aunt Matilda. "I am astounded!"
"I can't help it, aunty," said Adnah. "I can't make it seem so terrible, no matter how hard I try. In fact it—it seems to me that it would have been—well—rather nice."
"Adnah!"