Page:Herbert Jenkins - Patricia Brent Spinster.djvu/253

 "You must have a tonic," announced Miss Brent.

Patricia shuddered. She still remembered her childish sufferings resulting from Miss Brent's interpretation and application of The Doctor at Home. She was convinced that she had swallowed every remedy the book contained, and been rubbed with every linamentliniment [sic] its pages revealed.

"No, Aunt Adelaide," she said evenly. "All I require is that you should cease interfering in my affairs."

"How dare you! How" Miss Brent paused wordless.

"I am prepared to accept you as an aunt," continued Patricia, outwardly calm; but almost stifled by the pounding of her heart. "It is God's will; but if you persist in assuming the mantle of Mrs. Grundy, combined with the Infallibility of the Pope, then I must protest."

"Protest!" repeated Miss Brent, repeating the word as if not fully comprehending its meaning.

"If I am able to earn my own living, then I am able to conduct my own love affairs."

"But" began Miss Brent.

"I am sorry to appear rude, Aunt Adelaide, but it is much better to be frank. I am sure you mean well; but the fact of your being my sole surviving relative places me at a disadvantage. If there were two of you or three, you could quarrel about me, and thus preserve the balance. Now let us talk about something else."