'It's bad enough if they don't! And you know those aunts begin pretty
well, while they are in fear of the father, but then they get worse.'

'There was Ada Morton,' said Maude, in a tone of conviction, 'and Anna
Ross.'

'Oh yes, and another book, 'Rose Turquand.' It was a grown-up book,
that I read once--long ago,' said Dolores, who had in her mother's time
been allowed a pretty free range of 'book-box.'

"And there's 'Under the Shield,' but that was a boy."

'There are lots and lots,' said Dolores. 'They are ever so much worse
than the stepmothers! Not that there is any fear of that!' she added
quickly.

'But isn't this Aunt Lilias nice? It's a pretty name. Which is she?
You have one aunt a Lady Something, haven't you?'

'Yes, it is this one, Lady Merrifield. Her husband is a general, Sir
Jasper Merrifield, and he is gone out to command in some place in
India; but she cannot stand the climate, and is living at home at a
place called Silverfold, with a whole lot of children. I think two are
gone out with their father, but there are a great many more.'

'Don't you know them at all?'

'No, and don't want to! I think my aunts were unkind to mother!'

'Oh!' exclaimed Maude.