"Well, he must begin sometime. And that reminds me the sooner he begins
to call you aunt, the better."
I did not begin to do so then, of that the reader may be quite certain;
but there came a day when the word fell quite naturally from my lips.
For a long period ours was a hollow truce, but, as time passed on, and I
resolutely refused to quarrel with Miss Blake, she gradually ceased
trying to pick quarrels with me.
Our home is very dear to her. All the household management Helena from
the first hour took into her own hands; but in the nursery Miss Blake
reigns supreme.
She has always a grievance, but she is thoroughly happy. She dresses now
like other people, and wears over her gray hair caps of Helena's
selection.
Time has softened some of her prejudices, and age renders her
eccentricities less noticeable; but she is still, after her fashion,
unique, and we feel in our home, as we used to feel in the office--that
we could better spare a better man.
The old house was pulled down, and not a square, but a fine terrace
occupied its site. Munro lives in one of those desirable tenements, and
is growing rich and famous day by day. Mr. Craven has retired from
practice, and taken a place in the country, where he is bored to death
though he professes himself charmed with the quiet.
Pages:
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220
221
222
223
224
225