time.

"If Sister will let me have it," said Thekla.

"Of course she will," said Primrose. "Mysie says she is so jolly."

"Dear me! all the girls at our school said she was a regular Old
Maid."

"What shocking bad form!" exclaimed Primrose. "Just like cads of
girls," muttered Fergus, unheard; for Thekla continued--"Why, they
said she must be our maiden aunt, instead of our sister."

"The best thing going!" said Fergus.

"Maiden aunts in books are always horrid," said Thekla.

"Then the books ought to be hung, drawn, and quartered, and
spifflicated besides," said Fergus.

"Fergus doesn't like anybody so well as Aunt Jane," said Primrose,
"because nobody else understands his machines."

Thekla made a grimace.

"Ah!" said Primrose. "I see it is just as mamma and Mysie said when
they came home, that Miss Prescott was very nice indeed, and it was
famous that she should make a home for you all, only they were afraid
you seemed as if--you might be--tiresome," ended Primrose, looking
for a word.