were before), found her aunt in a state of high indignation.
She began to speak the moment Miss Vesta entered the room.

"Vesta, don't say a word to me! do you hear? not a single word! I will
not put up with it for an instant; understand that once and for all!"

"Dear Aunt Marcia," said Miss Vesta, mildly, "I may say good morning,
surely? What has put you about to-day?"

"I have had a letter. The impudence of the woman, writing to me! Now,
Vesta, don't look at me in that way, for you have some sense, if not
much, and you know perfectly well it was impudent. Folderol! don't tell
me! her dear aunt, indeed! I'll dear-aunt her, if she tries to set foot
in this house."

Miss Vesta's puzzled brow cleared. "Oh," she said, "I see, Aunt Marcia.
You also have had a letter from Maria."

"Read it!" said Mrs. Tree. "I'd take it up with the tongs, if I were
you."

Miss Vesta did not think it necessary to obey this injunction, but
unfolded the square of scented paper which her aunt indicated, and read
as follows:

"MY DEAR AUNT:--I was much grieved to hear of poor Phoebe's
death. It seems very strange that I was not informed of her
illness; being her own first cousin, it would have been natural and
gratifying for me to have shared the last sad hours with you and
Vesta; but malice is no part of my nature, and I am quite ready to
overlook the neglect. You and Vesta must miss Phoebe sadly, and
be very lonely, and I feel it a duty that I must not shirk to come
and show you both that to _me_, at least, blood is thicker than
water. One drop of Darracott blood, I always say, is enough to
establish a claim on me. It is a long time since I have been in
Elmerton, and I should like above all things to bring my two sweet
girls, to show them their mother's early home, and present them to
their venerable relation. I think you would find them _not
inferior_, to say the least, to some others who have been more put
forward to catch the eye. A violet by a mossy stone has always been
_my_ idea of a young woman. However, my daughters' engagements are
so numerous, and they are so much _sought after_, that it will be
impossible for me to bring them at present; later I shall hope to
do so. I propose to divide my visit _impartially_ between you and
poor Vesta, but shall go to her first, being the one in affliction,
since such we are bidden to vis