In short, they do not know
that I am not an old-maid aunt except under this blessed mansard-roof,
and some other roofs of Eastridge, many of which are also mansard,
where the influence of their fixed belief prevails. For instance, they
told the people next door, who have moved here recently, that the
old-maid aunt was coming, and so, when I went to call with my
sister-in-law, Mrs. Temple saw her quite distinctly. To think of Ned
Temple being married to a woman like that, who takes things on trust
and does not use her own eyes! Her two little girls are exactly like
her. I wonder what Ned himself will think. I wonder if he will see that
my hair is as red-gold as Peggy's, that I am quite as slim, that there
is not a line on my face, that I still keep my girl color with no aid,
that I wear frills of the latest fashion, and look no older than when
he first saw me. I really do not know myself how I have managed to
remain so intact; possibly because I have always grasped all the minor
sweets of life, even if I could not have the really big worth-while
ones. I honestly do not think that I have had the latter. But I have
not taken the position of some people, that if I cannot have what I
want most I will have nothing. I have taken whatever Providence chose
to give me in the way of small sweets, and made the most of them.
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