"You inquisitive old maid!" said my mother in mild reproach. "Aren't
you ashamed of yourself?" as I stood examining the missive.
"I wanted to see what the old country stamp is like," I answered
calmly, my eyes still on the envelope. Aunt Agnes was looking over my
shoulder in an instant.
"It's a man's handwriting," said she.
"Oh!" I said, "yes, I reckon it is."
"And it's got Virginia spelled with two n's," she added sorrowfully.
"You don't mean to say so!" said my mother, moving over to join us.
"The more the merrier," said my uncle; "and I'm going to put out the
gas, if it had a dozen. All aboard for the upper deck."
Wherewith we all moved towards the stairs. "The last I saw of your
Gordon Laird," said my aunt to me as we went up together, "he was
standing with his face hidden in those roses."
"Oh!" said I, "did you tell him who it was took them to his room?"
"No, never thought of it."
"I'm so glad," said I--with a little sigh.