CHAPTER IV. SLUM, SEA, OR SEASON



For in spite of all her mother had taught her,
She was really remarkably fond of the water.
JANE TAYLOR.


Mr. and Mrs. Lancelot Underwood had not long been gone to their
meeting when there ran into the drawing-room a girl a year older than
Anna, with a taller, better figure, but a less clear complexion,
namely Emilia, the adopted child of Mr. Travis Underwood. She found
Anna freshening up the flowers, and Gerald in an arm-chair reading a
weekly paper.

"I knew I should find you," she cried, kissing Anna, while Gerald
held out a finger or two without rising. "I thought you would not be
gone primrosing."

"A perspicacity that does you credit," said Gerald, still behind his
paper.

"Are the cousins gone?" asked Anna.

"Of course they are; Cousin Marilda, in a bonnet like a primrose
bank, is to pick up Fernan somewhere, but I told her I was too true
to my principles to let wild horses drag me there."