“What a very singular pastime for a young lady to indulge in,” exclaimed my aunt.
“You should get her married,” said uncle Tom. “I wish you had brought her with you. Here’s a cousin who would be glad to know her.”
I tried to catch Conny’s eye, to let her know that this suggestion of her papa’s was entirely gratuitous, but she wouldn’t look at me. It seemed to me, however, that Mrs. Hargrave stared at her husband somewhat more severely than his innocent observation merited.
“Well, when are you coming to see us?” said uncle Dick, turning round and facing me.
“I shall be proud to make Theresa’s acquaintance,” I answered, the idea suddenly occurring to me that by feigning to take an interest in my unknown relative, I might arouse Conny’s jealousy.
“Name your day, my boy.”
“We’ll settle that this evening,” interrupted uncle Tom, who then offered to take his brother to his bed-room, and afterwards show him some singular roots he had in his hothouses. So they left the room. Conny followed them, “to wait upon her uncle,” she said, and my aunt and I were left alone.
“Theresa,” she observed, “is a handsome, dashing girl, but I don’t think you’ll admire her.”
“She seems to have a very manly disposition.”
“Oh, very; she’s all day long on horseback.”