Her Place in the World

STORY EVER NEW . 293 XVII. FILLIN H G E R PLACE . 319 XVIII. THE BUTTERFLYBS RIEF SUMMER. 334 CHAPTER v OPPOSING FORCES IT certainly was a very helpless looking burthen that Royal Palmer brought into Aunt Hannahs keeping room and deposited in the chintz-covered Boston rocker. A pretty pink and white baby face emerged from a blue veil, and disclosed an abundance of fluffy golden hair, soft, appealing, blue eyes, a round dimpled chin, that quivered in a moment of emotion, and to a thoughtful person bespoke excess of sentiment and latent obstinacy. The kind of person you think you can govern easily, and who invariably ends by governing you. Aunt Hannah Gage looked through her glasses, and then over them. The strong, shrewd, and not uncomely face betrayed a variety of emotions, but the strongest seemed surprise You dont mean to say thats Betty Deane , she exclaimed bluntly. My name is 7lot Uetty, but Bcssie, the small creature declared emphatically. I was christened Uessie. Its all one, Im sui-e, only Bessic has a newfangled sound. - . But it isnt all one, interrupted the newcomer. Rly mothers name was Elizabeth, and she was called Betty, so she determined no one should have an excuse for calling me out of my proper name. ii Aunt Hannah, and Roy gave an embarrassed laugh, is this your welcome He had been m very much taken with the stranger, though up to the moment of seeing her he had secretly objected to the turn of affairs. A poor welcome to a motherless and fatherless bairn, and she flushed at her lack of kindliness. But you are so different from what I fancied, and I was so struck at seeing Roy bring you in his arms I hope you will be content, and l learn to like us and the place. Roy carried me because the path was wet. She glanced up with a frankness so winsome that Roy thought her lovely. Yes, it was quite a shower, but it is clearing up now. You must be tired, travelling all day. Ill have supper ready soon so take off your things. And Aunt Hannahs voice softened a little. Shall I take her trunk up-stairs asked Roy, in a. kind of nervous, man-fashion. Why - yes. I will go, too. Bessie Deane rose with a touch of dignity. She was of medium size, but gave one the impression of being petite. She had an air of command, that sat oddly on her, like a child aping its elders. Roy shouldered the smallish trunk, and, balancing it with one hand, picked upthe bag with the other. Aunt Hannah followed with the lamp she had just lighted, and Bessie walked rather sulkily at the end of the procession. The stairs were wide, and at the landing met a flight that came from the main hall., Then a turn, - and the party were ushered into a neat room, with a rag carpet that was quite a work of art in fineness and harmony of color, an old-fashioned mahogany bedstead, and bureau. But the white spread was real quilting, and the window curtains were of forty-year-old dimity. Heres a nice closet and Ive emptied that bureau and heres a pitcher of water...