Aunt Patty's Paying Guests by Eglanton Thorne

WE sat down to dinner rather earlier than usual that evening because father had to catch a train which left Chelmsford a little before nine. Mr. Faulkner's place at the table was vacant. I kept expecting that he would drop in, but he did not appear. It vexed me that father should go away without having another word with him, for although we were comparatively near London, I knew it might be a very long time ere father came again. He was a busy man and rarely gave himself a holiday.

I got ready to drive with father to the station, and no one offered to accompany us. Miss Cottrell was not visible when he took his departure. It struck me that she must have slipped away to avoid saying good-bye to him, fearing that he might address her as Miss Smith in the hearing of the others.

"It's a pretty place," said father, looking back at "Gay Bowers," as we drove away in the fair, sweet dusk of the evening, "and I am glad that your aunt can stay there, if she is happy at least. How does it answer, Nan? Do the 'paying guests' bother her much?"

"I think not, father," I answered. "Miss Cottrell was rather a worry; but we are beginning not to mind her peculiarities."

Father laughed.

"Poor thing! " he said. "What a pity she should try to pass herself off as other than she is! It is an attempt fore-doomed to failure. Do you know Emerson's words? 'Don't say things. What you are stands over you the while, and thunders so that I cannot hear what you say to the contrary. ' She does herself an injury, for she is really an excellent woman in many respects."

"Aunt says she is a capital nurse," I replied. "She was very helpful when Mr. Dicks was ill."

"What a man he is! " said father; "but a genuine one, I think. I wish I could have had a longer talk with Professor Faulkner. He is a fine man. Do you read much now, Nan?"

"You forget that books are forbidden me," I said, "though I must confess I do not pay much heed to Dr. Algar's prohibition when something good comes in my way. The difficulty is to get time for reading."

"If Dr. Algar could see you, I don't think he would be afraid of your reading," said my father. "Do you get any headaches now?"

"I have almost forgotten what a headache is like," I replied joyfully. "Even after I had worked out a mathematical problem which Jack Upsher could not master, my head did not ache."

"What, you presumed to beat Jack? " said father, smiling. "How did he stand that assumption of feminine superiority?"

"He was very grateful to me for helping him," I said. "Jack is not in the least ashamed of his feeble scholarship."

"Do you think he will get through his exam? " he asked.

"I hope so," I said. "He is working harder than he has ever worked before."

"I wish he might," said father. "I should like to see him in the Artillery, for I believe there is in him the making of a good soldier."

"He is tempted to spend too much of his time at 'Gay Bowers," I said laughingly; "but aunt is very severe with him. He flirts with Paulina, or rather, I believe, it would be more correct to say that she flirts with him."

Father laughed.

"That is harmless enough," he said, "since she must be several years older than he. Well, Nan, I am glad the experiment has answered so well as far as you are concerned. Your mother will be delighted to hear how much better you are. You must run up to town and see us all one of these days. You deserve a little change, for your aunt says you are the greatest comfort to her, and she does not know what she would do without you."

"Oh, father! " I exclaimed. "Why, I do nothing!"