sted no time in taking
stock of her aunt. She flung her arms joyously around that astonished
woman, and fairly took her by storm, talking volubly and continuously
until they were all in the house and seated in Ellen's best satin
brocatelle parlor chairs, surrounded by crayon portraits of Herbert
Robinson's ancestors and descendants. Allison too caught on to his
sister's game, and talked a good deal about how nice it was to get
East again after all the years, and how glad they were to have some
relatives of their own. Julia Cloud sat quietly and proudly listening;
and Ellen forgot her anger, and ceased to frown. After all, it was
something to have such good-looking relatives. For the first few
minutes the well-prepared speech wherewith she had intended to dress
down poor Julia lay idle on her lips, and a few sentences of grudging
welcome even, managed to slip by. Then suddenly she turned to her
sister, and the sight of the adoration for the visitors in Julia's
transparent face kindled her anger. Never had such a look as this
glowed in Julia Cloud's face for any little Robinson, save perhaps in
the first few days of their tiny lives before the Robinson had begun
to crop out in them.

"Where were you this morning, Jule? It certainly seems queer for you
to be gadding around having a good time so soon after poor mother's
death. And the dishes not washed, either! Upon my word, you have lost
your head! You weren't brought up that way. I stood up-stairs and
looked around on those unmade beds, and thought what poor mother would
have said if she could see them. Such goings-on! I certainly was
ashamed to have Mrs. Perkins see it."

Two rosy spots bloomed out on Julia Cloud's cheeks, and a tremble came
in her lips, though one could see she was making a great effort to
control herself; and the two long breaths that Leslie and Allison drew
simultaneously were heavily threatening, much like the distant rumble
of thunder.

"I'm sure I don't see what occasion Mrs. Perkins had to see it," she
answered steadily.

"Well, she was there!" said her sister dryly. She seemed to have
forgotten the presence of the two young people, who, if they had been
in the foreground, might have been noticed doing things with their
eyebrows to their mutual understanding and agreement.

"Yes, so she told me," said Julia Cloud significantly. "But that was
not what I came over to talk about, Ellen; I wanted to let you know
that I've rented the house, and