"Such unconscious innocence!" cried Lora, throwing up the white and
jeweled hands she had rested lightly for an instant upon the young girl's
shoulder, while gazing steadily into the smiling, blushing, sparkling
face. "You haven't been planning and promising to give Adelaide and me a
nephew older than ourselves? I tell you, miss, I refuse my consent. Why,
it's absurd! the very idea! I used to think him almost an elderly
gentleman when you were a chit of eight or nine."

"I remember having had some such idea myself; but he must have been
growing young since then," returned Elsie, demurely.

"He seems to have been standing still (waiting for you, I suppose); but I
never was more astonished in my life!" said Lora, dropping into a chair.

"It has been a genuine surprise to us all," remarked Rose.

"To me as much as anyone, mamma," said Elsie. "I--had thought he was
engaged to you, Aunt Adie."

"To _me_, child!"

"Why, my dear, I surely told you about her engagement to my brother
Edward?" exclaimed Adelaide and Rose simultaneously.

"You tried, mamma, and it was all my own fault that I did not hear the
whole truth. And, Aunt Adie, I cannot understand how he could ever fancy
me, while he might have hoped there was a possibility of winning you."

"'Twould have been a much more suitable match," said Lora. "Though I'd
have preferred the one in contemplation, except that in the other case,