Page:The Social War.djvu/48

42 invited into the handsome parlor, which embarrassed her very much, causing a singular shudder to come over her system; the waiter noticed that the lady was somewhat nervous, hence he did not speak for a moment, when Miss Lucinda Arrnington said:

"Mr. Victor Juno lives here, does he not?"

"Yes, ma'am, at your service," responded the servant.

"Will you have the kindness to inform him that his aunt desires to see him?" said Miss Armington.

"Yes, ma'am, but he is very ill; however, he may desire to see his aunt; I'll go to him," responded the servant.

Miss Armington now had a flash of horror fly across her mind, thinking: "Oh, gracious heaven I should I be detected; monstrous, should this servant know the real aunt, and go to Victor Juno or Dr. Toy Fancy, and announce the fact that a lady is in the parlor who says she is Victor Juno's aunt, but that she is not the aunt that he knows, when Victor probably might be strong enough to state that he has only one aunt, or something to that effect. My, my, O, my head! I think I had better leave at once; because, should Dr. Toy Fancy find out who I was, or even suspicion of a mysterious person being in the parlor, he would be on the alert, and hence my mission be a failure, and most likely father, Deacon Stew and all the rest would discover that something was not right. Never was I in such misery; never was I so undecided what I had better do; and should any one come to me now, my face would be a mirror, wherein guilt and confusion could be plainly seen. I must compose myself; hark, I hear a step."

The door opened, and the same polite servant returned saying that Mr. Juno would see her in a few moments; moreover, that the housekeeper would come to the parlor in a few minutes.

She begged of the servant not to send any one to her, as she would patiently wait until Victor was ready to have him (this servant) conduct her to his side.

When Victor Juno heard the announcement that his