Katy bent quite over to be kissed; but for all that she felt small
and young and unformed, as the eyes of mamma's cousin looked her
over and over, and through and through, and Mrs. Page said,--

"Why, Philip! is it possible that this tall girl is one of yours?
Dear me! how time flies! I was thinking of the little creatures I
saw when I was here last. And this other great creature can't be
Elsie? That mite of a baby! Impossible! I cannot realize it. I
really cannot realize it in the least."

"Won't you come to the fire, Mrs. Page?" said Katy, rather timidly.

"Don't call me Mrs. Page, my dear. Call me Cousin Olivia." Then the
new-comer rustled into the parlor, where Johnnie and Phil were waiting
to be introduced; and again she remarked that she "couldn't realize
it." I don't know why Mrs. Page's not realizing it should have made
Katy uncomfortable; but it did.

Supper went off well. The guests ate and praised; and Dr. Carr looked
pleased, and said: "We think Katy an excellent housekeeper for her age;"
at which Katy blushed and was delighted, till she caught Mrs. Page's
eyes fixed upon her, with a look of scrutiny and amusement, whereupon
she felt awkward and ill at ease. It was so all the evening. Mamma's
cousin was entertaining and bright, and told lively stories; but the
children felt that she was watching them, and passing judgment on
their ways. Children are very quick to suspect when older people
hold within themselves these little private courts of inquiry, and
they always resent it.

Next morning Mrs. Page sat by while Katy washed the breakfast things,