“Julia! my dear!” emphasized Mrs. Hazleton.
“Now, my dear Alice—that’s your name, is it not? Mine is Julia—Julia Ketchim—horrible! don’t you think so? Now you must not wonder at ma’ma—she is a great reader—she has got hold of Carlyle—but she is very glad to see you—so are we all—but that’s her way. Come, sit down—or would you prefer to go to your room?”
“Julia, I am surprised!” and Mrs. Hazleton rang the bell.
A servant entered.
“Show Miss Churchill her apartment.”
“O no, ma’ma, I am going with Alice.”
“Nancy, attend Miss Churchill. Julia, I want you—Julia!—Julia!” and with pouting lips and a very flushed face Julia was forced to obey, but not until she had whispered to Alice, who, almost terrified, was following the servant maid:
“Never mind ma’ma, dear—she is great upon etiquette—she is a Ninnybrain you know.”
There was an attempt at a Caudle lecture after Alice had left, but to her dismay Mrs. Hazleton found her influence, like the honey-moon, rapidly on the wane! When Alice again appeared in the drawing-room escorted by Julia, who, in spite of ma’ma, had contrived to slip away to her apartment, Mrs. Hazleton for the first time allowed her eyes to dwell searchingly upon the person of her unwelcome guest. To her inexpressible relief she found Miss Churchill presented that happy medium of which she had never dreamed, viz. that although her countenance was pleasing, yet she was by no means handsome enough to cause her one moment’s fear on the score of rivalship—while her natural ease of manner at once removed her from that awkward simplicity she had expected to find in an unskilled country girl. The effect of her scrutiny, therefore, was so satisfactory that Mrs. Hazleton with a pretty, girlish air instantly embraced her, and trusted she would feel herself as much at home as under her own dear mother’s roof. Although somewhat surprised, Alice did not doubt the sincerity of her welcome, and grateful for her kindness, returned her aunt’s embrace. Mr. Hazleton gave his wife a smile of approbation, while Julia whispered:
“There, I told you so—O that odious Carlyle—I knew ma’ma would be glad to see you when she had put down her book.”