For, though all the cards and gifts to mamma, and a good many
besides, were of domestic manufacture, some had to be purchased, and
she knew, this wonderful woman, where to get cards of former seasons at
reduced prices to suit their youthful finances.
Considerable patience was requisite before all the choices were made,
and the balance cast between cards and presents, and Miss Mohun got her
quartette past all the shop windows, to the seaside villa, shut in by
tamarisks, which Aunt Adeline believed to be the only place that suited
her health. Mamma and Miss Hacket had already arrived, and filled the
little vestibule with parcels and boxes.
Then the early dinner! The aunts had anticipated their Christmas
turkey for that goodly company to help them eat it, but afterwards
there was only time for a mince pie all round; for more than half the
work remained to be done by all except mamma, who would stay and rest
with Aunt Ada, having finished all that could not be deputed.
However, first she had a conference in private with Aunt Jane, who
undertook therein to come to Silverton for Valetta's birthday, and add
astonishment and mystery sufficient to satisfy such of the public as
were weary of Christmas-trees. She added, however, 'You will think I
am always at you. Lily, but did you know that Flinders is living at
Darminster?'
'No; but it is five and twenty miles off, and he has never troubled
us.'
'Don't be too secure. He is in connection with that low paper--the
Politician--which methinks, is the place where those remarkable poems
of Miss Constance's have appeared.
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