"She's been abroad for a good half-dozen years, and why she doesn't stay
there when everybody supposed she was going to, astonishes me," said
Jasper, after a moment. "Well, it will not be for long, I presume, that
we shall have the honor; she'll be easily tired of America, and take
herself off again."

"She doesn't stay in this house, does she, Jasper?" cried Polly in a
tone of horror.

"No; that is, unless she chooses to, then we can't turn her off. She's a
relative, you know."

"Hasn't she any home?" asked Polly, "or any children?"

"Home? Yes, an estate down in Bedford County?-Dunraven Lodge; but it's
all shut up, and in the hands of agents who have been trying for the
half-dozen years she was abroad, to sell it for her. She may have come
back to settle down there again, there's no telling what she will do. In
the meantime, I fancy she'll make her headquarters here," he said
gloomily.

"Oh, Jasper!" exclaimed Polly, seizing his arm, feeling that here was
need of comfort indeed, "how very dreadful! Don't you suppose something
will happen to take her away?"

"I don't see what can," said Jasper, prolonging the gloom to feel the
comfort it brought. "You see she has nobody who wants her, to step in
and relieve us. She has two nephews, but oh! you ought to see them
fight!"