Both understood that they were dismissed, and they dared not parley with this calm, dignified lady as they would have continued to do with Eva, whom they looked on merely as a child, without realizing that she had come to womanhood’s years since escaping from their clutches. They rose instantly from their seats and proceeded to beat an undignified retreat from the house, muttering as they went of “folks that didn’t have no manners, even if they did live in fine houses,” to all of which no one replied as they hurried down the steps to their waiting carriage. When safe within it the spinster sighed lugubriously: “Well, we made a dead failure at that, eh? We cain’t never git into sassiety through Eva Somerville.” “Oh, but wouldn’t I just like to get revenge on the proud piece,” hissed Patty, her eyes gleaming with a tigerish glare. She would, indeed, have liked to take hold of Eva and shake her, as she had been wont to do in her younger days when might made right. In her father’s beautiful home, surrounded by love and luxury, Eva had seemed to her like a little queen, and rage and envy filled her heart. They scolded all the way back home, the precious pair of schemers, and they could have killed Eva for her pride and scorn. Miss Ruttencutter said indignantly: “We couldn’t make the least headway with her, for all we tried to forgive her everything, an’ associate with her on equal terms, like as nuthing had ever been said ag’inst her character. She treated us like the dirt under her feet.” Meanwhile Eva had flung herself, sobbing, into her aunt’s arms. “To--to--think of having such shocking relatives,” she wailed. Mrs. Hamilton soothed her tenderly, replying: “Miss Groves was quite handsome and well-dressed, my dear, though the old maid was rather ridiculous in speech and dress.” “Oh, I wouldn’t mind that if she only had a good heart, auntie,” sobbed Eva. “It’s the kind heart I look for always, and that may beat behind an uncouth exterior and under the coarsest gown! But those two vile hypocrites! Oh, I would like to tell you how wickedly they treated me before papa found me and brought me away! Some day, with his permission, I will tell you all!” “Very well, dear; but now you are so excited I must give you a sedative or we shall have to call in Doctor Ludington again, as your cousin suggested,” Mrs. Hamilton remarked rather wickedly, as she rang for a servant and the medicine. Eva swallowed it without protest, though she had crimsoned painfully at the reference to Doctor Ludington. She thought: “What strange thoughts auntie must have of me after the vile innuendoes of my wicked cousins! I must obtain papa’s permission to tell her my story. She deserves it for her generous loyalty to me!” Aloud she said: