"And who is the happy dog--I mean gentleman'--Eva? I may call you Eva,
just for this evening yet, mayn't I?"
"I don't care if--if--Oh my! what a name! Charley, did you ever hear
such a dreadful name as David?"
"What! old Todd? It isn't old Todd?" I asked, laughing.
"It is very unkind of you to laugh when you know I must marry him."
"I won't laugh," I said, putting her arm in mine and walking down the
verandah. "Come, sit on this sofa and tell me all about it."
"Well," she said, half pouting and half crying, "I must marry some one
this season--both mamma and auntie say so--and I can't marry Ned."
"Ned Hardcash? You don't mean to say he was spooney on you?"
"Yes he was, but I told him he was too poor."
"You are very reasonable, Eva."
"You need not talk that way. Mamma would not hear of it. I could not
let him ask her, for she would have been so angry, and she and auntie
would have scolded me; and you don't know how fearfully auntie can
abuse one when she begins."
"How did Ned take your answer?"
"Oh, he just went away, and did not care a bit, and I have not seen
him since."
"He did not care?" thinking I now had the clew to Ned's savage manner
for the week past. "When did it happen?"
"I can't exactly remember: it was soon after we took the parlor.
Auntie would not let me invite him there, and he got angry and jealous
of Mr.
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