"Sister!" he called, excitedly, as she came up the steps to meet them; "this one is Aunt Harry--that's what she told me to call her--and the other one is Aunt Carrie; and they've both been around the world together, and both ridden on elephants." There was a general laugh at the unceremonious introduction. Miss Caroline took Bethany's hands in her own little plump ones, and stood on tiptoe to give her a hearty kiss. Miss Harriet did the same, holding her a moment longer to look at her with fond scrutiny. "Such a striking resemblance to your dear mother," she said. "Sister and I hoped you would look like her." "They are homely little bodies, and dreadfully old-fashioned," was Bethany's first impression, as she looked at them in their plain dresses of Quaker gray. "But their voices are so musical, and they have such good, motherly faces, I believe they will prove to be real restful kind of people." "Sister and I have been such birds of passage, that it will seem good to settle down in a real home-nest for a while," said Miss Harriet, as they were going over the house together. "When one has lived in a trunk for a decade, one appreciates big, roomy closets and wardrobes like these." They went all over the place, from garret to cellar, and sat down to rest beside an open window, where a climbing rose shook its fragrance in with every passing breeze. "Mrs. Marion thought you might not be ready for us before next week," sighed Miss Caroline; "but these cool, airy rooms do tempt me so. I wish we could come this very afternoon." She smiled insinuatingly at Bethany. "We have nothing to move but our trunks." "Well, why not?" answered Bethany. "I shall be glad to surrender the reins any time you want to assume the responsibility." "Then it's settled!" cried Miss Caroline, exultingly. "O, I'm so glad!" and, catching Miss Harriet around her capacious waist, she whirled her around the room, regardless of her protestations, until their spectacles slid down their noses, and they were out of breath. Bethany watched them in speechless amazement. Miss Caroline turned in time to catch her expression of alarm. "Did you think we had lost our senses, dear?" she asked. "We do not often forget our dignity so; but we have been so long like Noah's dove, with no rest for the sole of our foot, that the thought of having at last found an abiding-place is really overwhelming." "I wish you wouldn't always say 'we,'" remarked Miss Harriet, with dignity. "I am very sure I have outgrown such ridiculous exhibitions of enthusiasm, and it is fully time that you had too." "O, come now, Harry," responded Miss Caroline, soothingly. "You're just as glad as I am, and there's no use in trying to hide our real selves from people we are going to live with." Then she turned to Bethany with an apologetic air.