Bressant

Cornelia, upon her arrival in New York, had been met at the station by

an emissary of Aunt Margaret, and conducted to a country-seat some

distance up the river. Four or five young ladies were already assembled

there, and as many young gentlemen came up on afternoon trains, and

availed themselves of Aunt Margaret's hospitality, until business called

them to the city again the nest morning, except that on Saturdays they

brought an extra change or two of raiment, to tide them over the blessed

rest of Sunday.

"I've been so ill, my love--how sweet and fresh you do look!

Give your auntie a kiss--there. Oh! you naughty girl, how jealous

all the girls will be of those eyes of yours!--so ill--such

dreadful sick-headaches--oh, yes! I'm a great sufferer, dear,

a great sufferer--but no one, hardly, knows it. I tell you, you

know, dear, because you are my own darling little Cornelia. Oh! those

sweet eyes! So ill--so unable, you know, to be up and doing--to

be as I should wish to be--as I once was--as you are now,

you--splendid--creature--you! Now you must let me speak my heart out

to you, dear; it's my nature to do it, and I can't restrain,

it--foolish I know, but I always was so foolish! oh dear! well--Ah!

there's the first bell already. Let me show you your room, darling. As I

was going to say, I've been so indisposed that I've been obliged to pet

myself up a little here, before starting on our tour, you know, but in

a week I mean to be well again--I will be. Oh! I have immense

resolution, dear Neelie--immense fortitude, where those I love are

concerned. There, this is your little nest--now one more kiss. Oh!

those sweet lips! Remember you sit by me at dinner."

"What a funny old woman Aunt Margaret is!" said Cornelia to herself,

after she had closed the door of her chamber. "Such a queer voice--goes

away up high, and then away down low, all in the same sentence. And what

a small head for such a tall woman! and she's so thin! I do hope she

won't go on kissing me so much with her big mouth! how fast she does

twist it about! and then her front teeth stick out so! and she keeps

shoving that great black ear-trumpet at me, whenever she thinks I want

to speak; and her eyes are as pale and watery as they can be, and they

look all around you and never at you. Well, it's very mean of me to

criticise the old thing so; she's as kind as she can be. I wonder

whether she knows Mr. Bressant; her manner reminds me sometimes of him;

in a horrid way, of course, but--poor fellow! what is he doing now, I'd

like to know!" Here Cornelia's meditations became very profound and

private indeed; she, meanwhile, in her material capacity, making such

alterations and improvements in her personal appearance as were

necessary to prepare herself for the table.