Monde Hedelquiver.

——

CHAPTER II.

MONDE HEDELQUIVER TO EDITH MANNERS.

Danville, Dec. 15, 1851.

“Rosamonde,” said Aunt Alice one morning, as she sat stitching a wristband; and her voice had an ominous cadence.

“What would you say to me, aunt?”

I looked up from my paper, but she had turned her face from me a little, and bent it low over her work, as if what she was going to say had a certain sort of wickedness in it that made her ashamed. “What would you say, aunt?” I repeated.

“Why it isn’t much; but I was thinking that if Alfred Cullen comes up while you are here—and I have an idea that he will—I hope you will try to like him.”

“Or rather, aunt, you hope I will like him without trying, don’t you?”