"Well, of course, you don't want to be odd, child. There is a certain propriety in all these things. I will speak to Jacobs about it, and send him up here. Shall I?" "Well, Aunty, anything to suit you. You may take off quillings, or put on fringe, if you won't insist on marrying me to anybody," said Eva; "only I do wish any one fashion would last long enough to give one time to breathe and turn round before it has to be altered, but the Bible says the fashion of this world passeth quickly away, and so I suppose one must put up with it." "Eva, do you correspond with Mr. Sydney?" said Aunt Maria, after a moment's reflection. "Correspond? No, to be sure I don't. What should I do that for?" "He writes to mamma, though," said Alice, laughing. "It's his own affair, if he does," said Eva. "I told him, before he went, I never corresponded with gentlemen. I believe that is the correct thing to say. I never mean to, either, unless it's with one whose letters are particularly interesting to me." "How do you like that young Henderson?" "What, Ida's admirer?" said Eva, coloring. "Oh, we think him nice enough. Don't we Alice?--rather jolly, in fact." "And does Ida continue gracious?" "Certainly. They are the best of friends," said Eva. "The fact is, he is quite a fine fellow; and he reads things to Ida, and she advises him about his style, you know." "He and Jim Fellows always come together," said Alice; "and I think they are both nice--in fact, rather better than the average. He isn't quite such a rattle-cap as Jim, but one trusts him more." "Well," said Eva, "I don't like a professed joker. A man that never is in earnest ought to wear the cap and bells, as the court fools used to do in old times." "O, bless you, child," said Alice, "that's what Jim is for; he always makes me laugh, and I like to laugh." "Don't you think that Mr. Henderson would do nicely for Ida," said Aunt Maria. "Oh, as to that," said Alice, "neither he nor Jim Fellows are marrying men. You see they haven't anything, and of course that they can't be thinking of such things." "But," said Aunt Maria, "Ida is just the wife for a poor man. She has a turn for economy, and doesn't care for dress and show; and could rub and scrub along, and help to support the family. I really think she likes work for the sake of it. I wish to mercy she could be engaged, and get all these dreadful queer plans and notions out of her head. I am always so puzzled what in the world to tell people when they ask why she doesn't visit and go into society." "Why not tell the truth," said Eva, "that she prefers to help papa in his business." "Because, love, that's so odd. People can't understand it."