"Oh, dear, dear," said Mrs. Lewis, "I wish she had not come! She never helps me in any way. All she does is to scold me and make me more depressed than I am already. And she blames me so for marrying your poor father, Carrie; as if I could help that now. And what do you think she is going to do? She says she is going to take Elma from us." "And a good thing, too," said Carrie. "Carrie, what an unnatural girl you are! Do you mean to say you would be glad to part from your sister?" "I would, because I am fond of her, and she has got into the most awful scrape at school. Don't you put any spoke in her wheel, mother, for goodness' sake!" At that moment the latchkey was heard in the lock, and Elma herself appeared on the scene. "Oh, good gracious! Elma," cried Carrie, darting up to her sister, and beginning to whisper vigorously into her ear. "What?" said Elma, with a start of dismay. "So soon?" "Yes, yes; she's been here for nearly an hour. She is devouring rolled bread and butter and tea in the dining-room at present. She asked for toast----" "Yes," interrupted Mrs. Lewis, who now came up and began also to whisper; "yes, and fresh eggs, and cream, and lamb chops, and cold lamb and salad. I never heard of anything so unreasonable. My poor head is in an awful whirl. But she has come about you, Elma. She wants to take you away with her." "She wants to take me away with her?" exclaimed Elma, starting, and her pale face flushing. "And you had better go, Elma, and be quick about it," said Carrie, giving her a warning glance. "I don't know what all this means," said Elma, her heart beating uncomfortably fast; "but I had better go in and see Aunt Charlotte." "Yes, my love, yes; and while you are talking to her I--What do you say, Carrie--you and I might go out upon that little matter of business, might we not?" "To be sure, mother; an excellent thought. If you stay here I'll run upstairs and fetch your bonnet, veil, and mantle in a twinkling. Go in to Aunt Charlotte, Elma; do, for goodness sake, make yourself of use. More depends on it than you think. If she hears us whispering and mattering in the hall she'll be out upon us." Elma instinctively put up her two hands to smooth back her hair, she straightened her already perfectly neat little jacket, and, drawing herself up to her full _petite_ height, entered the little dining-room. Elma was a perfect contrast to her untidy mother and her frowzy sister. However poorly dressed, she was always the pink of neatness. She was full of agitation now and nervous fear, but not a trace of these emotions could be visible in her manner and appearance. She went up to her Aunt Charlotte, who for her part held out both her arms and, drawing the girl down, printed a kiss upon her cheek.