Page:Orange Grove.djvu/177

 up, if he should ever hear of me, but I must put on 'tother cap, and a clean apron."

"He looks as if he might be a Governor or somebody," quietly replied Kate.

Aunt Polly, hastened upstairs, put on her 'tother cap with its capacious frill, and, smoothing the folds of her clean checked apron, she opened the door into the dining room, when, lo and behold! Instead of the courteous smile of the Governor, she was met by this horrid, grinning figure, with its great glaring eyes, and mouth distended from ear to ear. Mortified and vexed beyond measure, she beat a rapid retreat into the kitchen, but Kate had shut herself into the pantry convulsed with laughter, and she was obliged to defer giving vent to her ill-concealed wrath until a more convenient season. At this moment Rosalind entered, having just returned from a short walk.

Meanwhile a great change had come over her feelings. Another wave of anguish had burst upon her, well nigh sweeping away the little oasis which so greatly refreshed her in her desert wanderings. Having gone out, as she often did, to shake off her melancholy feelings, she this morning returned with seven spirits bluer than herself. In reply to something Aunt Polly muttered to her, which was not very agreeable in her present state of mind, she did not speak with her usual courteous tone,—at least, so it seemed to Aunt Polly's disturbed temper.

"Ye needn't feel so pert this morning, Miss Rosa, and as for that Mr. Livingston ye never'll catch him, that's what ye won't. He's a courtin' or flirtin', I don't know which, with that Miss Blanche, but lor,