It was very pleasant at Aikenside that afternoon, and the cool breeze
blowing from the miniature fish pond in one corner of the grounds,
came stealing into the handsome parlors, where Agnes Remington, in
tasteful toilet, reclined languidly upon the crimson-hued sofa,
bending her graceful head to suit the height of Jessie, who was
twining some flowers among her curls, and occasionally appealing to
Guy to know "if it was not pretty."
In his favorite seat in the pleasant bay window, opening into the
garden, Guy was sitting, apparently reading a book, though his eyes
did not move very rapidly down the page, for his thoughts were on some
other object. When his pretty stepmother first came to Aikenside,
three months before, he had been half sorry, for he knew just how his
quiet would be disturbed, but as the weeks went by, and he became
accustomed to Jessie's childish prattle and frolicsome ways, while
even Agnes herself was not a bad picture for his handsome home, he
began to feel how he should miss them when they were gone, Jessie
particularly, who made so much sunshine wherever she went, and who was
very dear to the heart of the half-brother. Full well he knew Agnes
would rather stay there, that her income did not warrant as luxurious
a home as he could give her, and that by remaining at Aikenside during
the warmer season she could afford to board through the winter in
Boston, where her personal attractions secured her quite as much
attention as was good for her. Had she been more agreeable to him he
would not have hesitated to offer her a home as long as she chose to
remain, but, as it was, he felt that Lucy Atherstone would be much
happier alone with him. Lucy, however, was not coming yet, and until
she did come Agnes perhaps might stay. It certainly would be better
for Jessie, who could have a teacher in the house, and it was upon
these matters that he was reflecting.
As if divining his thoughts Agnes said to him rather abruptly: "Guy, Ellen Laurie writes me that they are all going to Saratoga for a
time, and then to Newport, and she wished I would join them. Do you
think I can afford it?"
"Oh, yes, that's splendid, for I'll stay here while you are gone, and
I like Aikenside so much better than Boston. Mamma can afford it,
can't she, Guy?" Jessie exclaimed, dropping her flowers and springing
upon her brother's knee.
Smoothing her bright hair and pinching her soft cheek, Guy replied: "That means, I suppose, that I can afford it, don't it? but, puss, I
was thinking just now about your staying here where you really do
improve."