The Spinster Book

he G

nt Peace, "we will

ke new. Miss Field herself made a pan of little cakes, sprinkled them with powdered sugar, and put them away. She was never lovelier than when at her dainty ta

e," as Iris said to Lynn, "we don't know that he is, but since he's miss

laughing. He took keen delight in t

es for tea," continued

jected, "and I wish you'd quit talking a

angerously near his. Her rosy lips were twitching in a mos

's cheek, and he rubbed the injured place ruefull

learned yet, I'l

I'll hold your h

g to be any 'next

away! Wait a minute-I

e-sided," remarked Iris,

k he

en-the grass-and the shrubbery, you

usins, ar

ntly struck by a new idea. "I hadn't thought

ther is Aunt Peace'

. A lady nephew is called

ng, "you know what I mean. Mother

of it." The wicked light in her eyes belied her words, and Lynn

he said. "And mo

all

s me Aunt Pea

orrected Iris, wi

pliment. Perhaps I'm a

s of removal," observed

am Aunt Peace's nephew, what

hter," Iris

d as any other kind of a daugh

explained Iris,

n East Lancaster. I'm your

repeated Iris, parrot-like, with

the same as a

ousin," she observed, and the colour

ng to kiss

of finality. She flew into the house

closely following, "

he's no rela

Grand-legal-cousin-once-removed, you wi

he went upstairs; "I'll see tha

ving, suddenly, "you

en she smiled. "It is because you love me," she said, dropping a tiny kiss upon M

ee one's face in, for Aunt Peace did not believe in cultivating vanity-in others. In her o

ght. "Aunt Peace is in the k

She turned her head this way and that, taking pleasure in the gleam of light upon the shining coils of her

she said to herself, in surprise. "I wonder why I couldn't have a glass like this i

"If you'll keep still, I'll make another one for you o

s, with icy calmness, "yo

to her own room. She shut the door with unmistakable firmness, and Lynn sighed.

urface and lingered upon the vision of their own loveliness. Many a woman, day by day, had watched herself grow old, and the mirror had seen tears

and meditating upon the desirability of the one in the attic. "I'll ask Aunt Pea

gly; "I'm a vain little thing, and I won'

herself. Then, she had had only the books and the people who moved acros

grand-legal-cousin-once-removed. Still, she rather wished it hadn't happened, for she felt different, someway. It would have been better if the writer of the letters had done it. A romance like this set her far above the commonplace-she fe

nt Peace was beautiful in shimmering white, with the emerald gleaming at her throat. Mrs. Irving, a

go outside?" a

until after calling hours. Of course, there are few visitors in East Lancaster, but even on a dese

affected not to see him, and waited until the maid ushered him in. "G

ss Field by elaborate deference. If he disagreed with her, it was with evident res

Peace, addressing them all. "We were just up

Miss Field's white shawl. Behind were Lynn and Iris, laughing like children at some secret joke. By a stran

ful at this time of year. I have not travelled much, but I have seen

"you would so much enjoy travelling. It

t, but as you speak of it, it seems to

ed Mrs. Irving. "What

ve years, my dear; yo

anywhere and come back safely. Everybody she met would

d the Doctor, with

t there was a note of happy youthfulness in t

d, "it will be my pleasure to give you

h a stately inclination of her

ich would be of service to you. Shall I

Doctor, but sometime, if y

en I happen to be passi

am familiar with much that has been written of foreign

chief. "The world has changed, dear

lways changing, and we olde

Aunt Peace, you're well up at the head of the process

I do not understand. Is

antly. "He wears a bear-skin bonnet and tickles the music out of th

vingly. "What language! Aunt

t Peace," remark

s," said the old lady. "Do you think, Doct

adily better. I can

k so," observed Margaret, "

stood waiting, as it had done for two centuries, while those who belonged under its roof made holiday outside. Most of them had gone

essingly. Her silvered hair gleamed with unearthly beauty and her serene eyes gave swee

one think of the old fairy tales. Elves and witches

ering rainbow. "They are far from impossible," he answered. "I think they were here only the other night,

?" asked Aunt Peace, with

of mignonette, tied round with a

Margaret. "How cou

and the mignonette means the hope of love. A very pret

ated the Doctor, no

of her heart. "What do you think?" asked

rned, with assumed in

uck ten. They heard it plainly, and the Doctor, with a

was so late," he

t a restraining hand. "Let me offer you some refre

Aunt P

or tea-there may be one or two le

ll

oyal Worcester plate piled generously with cakes, and a dec

the moonlight, glass in hand. The brim of another touched it a

good heal

your pro

r, as he brushed away the crumbs, "and now, m

ch o

urie,' if

move to follow her. "Don't go, mot

unt Peace wil

, with no fear of draughts or colds. Midsummer has never hurt anyone,

tance, the girl's deep contralto was surpassingly tender and sweet. When she

Lynn, half to himself

, with gentle dignity, "and her voice pleas

" said

ts for no more than the love of the few. The great ones have s

y went to the house together. At the steps, there

s were to be my last night on earth, I could not ask for more-my beautifu

t ever so lightly with his lips. "I thank you, dear madam," he

th a happy little laugh. "The years stretch

d by a hot hand upon her face. "Dearie," said Aunt Peace,