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"Poor lass!" So down we went to the drawing-room, where we found Grandmamma, my Aunt Dorothea, and my Uncle Charles, who came forward and led my Aunt Kezia to a chair. "Madam," said Grandmamma, "I trust Mr Courtenay is well, and that you had a prosperous journey." "He is better than ever he was, I thank you, Madam," answered my Aunt Kezia.
"Things look very different, sometimes, according to the side on which you see them," saith my Aunt Kezia. I could not help thinking that people did so. Emily was used during the last century as a diminutive for Amelia. There is really no etymological connection between the two names.
"How do you, Grandmamma?" said I. "This is my cousin, Flora Drummond, and this is our friend, Annas Keith. Fa Papa, I mean, and Aunt Kezia, sent their respectful compliments, and begged that you would kindly allow them to tarry here for a night on their way to the Isle of Wight." Grandmamma looked at me, then at Flora, then at Annas, and took a pinch of snuff.
They had been standing in the hall while this conversation was running its course. "It's all nonsense, Kezia; I am astonished at you!" said Jemima. "Come into the sitting-parlour," said Kezia, taking Ralph's hand; "we'll not one of us bear any malice if only you tell us all about it." Jemima, after severe consideration, at last looked in a curious sidelong way to Ralph.
This afternoon, when she said that, instead of sitting quiet, as we generally do, Hatty she is the pert one amongst us actually spoke up. "I should think we shall be married, Aunt Kezia, one of these days shan't we?"
You may, if you like." "I would rather be at Abbotscliff, very much, Aunt Kezia," said I; and I think Aunt Kezia was pleased. "Aunt Kezia, don't send me away!" pleaded Sophy. "Do let me stay and help you to settle at Fir Vale. I should hate to stay at Bracewell, and I should just like bustling about and helping you in that way. Won't you let me?"
The old woman dropped her knitting. She swung back in the rocker. She began to tickle Kezia. "Say never, say never, say never," gurgled Kezia, while they lay there laughing in each other's arms. "Come, that's enough, my squirrel! That's enough, my wild pony!" said old Mrs. Fairfield, setting her cap straight. "Pick up my knitting." Both of them had forgotten what the "never" was about.
I think Kezia forgot sometimes how very little a girl I still was. I did not understand what she meant, and all I could say was that the three girls were not strangers to me. Afterwards I saw what Kezia was thinking of, she was afraid of the Nestors sending some present to grandmamma, and that, she would not have liked. But Mrs. Nestor was too good and sensible for anything of that kind.
Ambrose followed, and so did my Aunt Kezia, for she said men knew nought about airing beds, and it was as like as not Bessy would take the blankets from the wrong chest if she were not after her. Hatty was not in the room, and Flora had carried off her letter, which was from my Uncle Drummond. So Ephraim and I were left alone, for, somewhat to my surprise, he made no motion to follow the rest.
She only told me that she was sure Sharley did not think anything but what was nice and friendly about me, and that I must not be a fanciful little woman. And then she sent me to Kezia, who had kept an odd corner of her pastry for me to make into stars and hearts and other shapes with her cutters, as I was very fond of doing. So that very soon I was quite bright and happy again.
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