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This speech, of course, exasperated Berintha, but she made no reply, although there was on her face a look of quiet determination, which Lucy mistook for tacit acquiescence in her proposal. Five six seven eight struck the little brass clock, and no one had come except old Dr.
Before church was out Lucy was really sick, and when at home in her room she did not refuse the bowl of herb tea which Berintha kindly brought her, saying "it had cured her when she felt just so."
Even then Miss Berintha would demur, until she had taken the Bible to the window, and squinted to see if the year had not been scratched out and rewritten! Then closing the book with a profound sigh she would say, "I never, now! it beats all how much older you look!"
As he was leaving he said to Ada, "I have a niece, Jenny, about your age, whom I think you would like very much." Oh, how Ada longed to ask for her old playmate, but a look from her mother kept her silent, and in a moment St. Leon was gone. Cousin Berintha, whom Lucy Dayton so much disliked and dreaded, was a cousin of Mr. Dayton, and was a prim, matter-of-fact maiden of fifty, or thereabout.
"You'll be able by that time to come down-stairs in your crimson morning-gown, which becomes you so well," answered Lucy. "But father's away," rejoined Lizzie; to which Lucy replied: "So much the better, for now I shan't be obliged to ask any old things. I told him I meant to have it while he was gone, for you know he hates parties. But what shall I do with Berintha?"
Where is she?" "She is not expected," answered Lucy carelessly. "Ah!" said St. Leon; and Berintha, touching his arm, rejoined: "Of course you could not think Ada Harcourt would be invited here!" "Indeed! Why not?" asked St. Leon, and Berintha continued: "To be sure, Ada is handsome, and Ada is accomplished, but then Ada is poor, and consequently can't come!"
All these annoyances Lucy was spared on this day, for neither Cousin Peter, Elizabeth Betsey, or Miss Berintha made their appearance. At the dinner table Mr. Dayton remarked quietly to his daughters, "I believe you have given up attending the party!" "Oh, no, father," said Lucy, "we are going, Lizzie and I." "And what about your dress?" asked Mr. Dayton.
"Why," answered Lizzie, "it is very lonely at Cousin John's, and his wife makes more of a servant of Berintha than she does a companion, so father, out of pity, asked her to stay with us, and she showed her good taste by accepting."
"But I see no reason why poverty should debar her from good society," said St. Leon; and Berintha, with an exultant glance at Lucy, who, if possible, would have paralyzed her tongue, replied: "Why, if Ada were present, she might rival somebody in somebody's good opinion. Wasn't that what you said, Cousin Lucy? Please correct me, if I get wrong."
"I don't know what you are talking about," answered Lucy; and Berintha, in evident surprise, exclaimed: "Why, don't you remember when Ada came here with a gentleman let me see, who was it? well, no matter who 'twas she came with a gentleman he was ushered into the parlor, while you took her into a side room, then into a side passage, and out at the side door, kindly telling her to beware of the gentleman in the parlor, who could want nothing good of sewing girls!"
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