"Oh, there's room enough," said Ladybird, impatiently; "that isn't the question; there's room enough in Primrose Hall for a whole army. But right is right, and if you're Lavinia Lovell, the daughter of Lavinia Flint Lovell, why, you belong here, and I don't. And of course I'm not going to make any fuss about it; but please be good to my aunts,--your aunts, I mean,--and especially Aunt Priscilla." "Why Aunt Priscilla?" said Lavinia Lovell, curiously. "I haven't seen much of them, but I like Aunt Dorinda better." "That's just the reason," said Ladybird, nodding her wise head: "it's because you haven't seen much of them that you like Aunt Dorinda better. I did, too, when I hadn't seen much of them." "But now?" said Lavinia Lovell. "But now," said Ladybird, "I love Aunt Priscilla most. There's no use talking, I do. You see, Aunt Dorinda is lovely, and sweet, and placid, but Aunt Priscilla is decided, and that's the thing! Lavinia Lovell, if you're going to live here in my place, and I suppose you are, just remember that Aunt Priscilla's decision is worth more than Aunt Dorinda's sweetness." "I don't know what you're talking about," said Lavinia Lovell. "I'm talking about what I know about, and you don't seem to know anything," said Ladybird. "And now, if you please, we'll go down-stairs." They went down the broad staircase hand in hand,--the real Lavinia Lovell, golden-haired and blue-eyed, and the other one, Ladybird, black-haired and dark-eyed,--and together, hand in hand, they entered the drawing-room, where the two Flint ladies sat talking to Mr. Ward. "It's all right, my aunties," said Ladybird, advancing, and almost dragging the other, "it's all right; and this new girl is Lavinia Lovell, and I'm not. I'm Jack Lovell's daughter, but I am not the daughter of Lavinia Flint, and so, aunty dear, I've no claim on you." Ladybird threw herself into Aunt Priscilla's arms, and for a moment Miss Flint held her close, without saying a word. Then she said: "Dear, Mr. Ward has told us all about it. Sister Dorinda and I understand it all. You are not our niece; you are in _no_ way related to us." Here Miss Priscilla's grasp tightened. "You are in no way related to us. Lavinia Lovell, who has just come, is our niece; but, Ladybird, I love you." "That's all right, aunty," said Ladybird, cheerfully; "I understand the whole business. Lavinia Lovell, the new girl, who has just arrived, is the daughter of Lavinia Flint, your sister, and I am not. But, Aunt Priscilla,--oh, no, you are not even my aunt. Well, then, Miss Priscilla Flint of Primrose Hall, do you love me?" "I love you," said Miss Priscilla, and the embrace in which she held Ladybird left no doubt in the mind of anybody present. "Quite so," said Mr. Ward, "quite so. But may I remind you, Miss Flint, that the young lady whom I have brought with me, Miss Lavinia Lovell, has a claim, I may say a previous claim, upon your recognition?"