r Maria's
waterproof, which was powdered with snow. She wore her old black
bonnet, and the wind had tipped that rakishly to one side. She stared
at Lily and George Ramsey, who both rose with crimson faces.

"Good-evening," Lily ventured, feebly.

"Good-evening, Miss Stillman," George said, following the girl's
lead. Then, as he was more assured, he added that it was a very
stormy night.

George had been sitting on one side of the stove, Lily on the other,
in the chairs which Maria and Lily had occupied before the young
man's arrival. They had both sprung up with a guilty motion when Aunt
Maria entered. Aunt Maria stood surveying them. She did not return
their good-evenings, nor George's advance with regard to the weather.
Her whole face expressed severe astonishment. Her thin lips gaped
slightly, her pale eyes narrowed. She continued to look at them, and
they stood before her like culprits.

"Where's Maria gone?" said Aunt Maria, finally, in a voice which
seemed to have an edge to it.

Then Lily spoke with soft and timid volubility. "Maria said her head
ached so she thought she had better go to bed, Miss Stillman," she
said.

"I didn't hear anything about any headache before I went away. Must
have come on mighty sudden," said Aunt Maria.

"She said it ached very hard," repeated Lily. "And when the door-bell
rang, when Mr. Ramsey came--"

"It's mighty queer she should have had a headache when George Ramsey
rang the door-bell," said Aunt Maria.

"I guess it must have ached before," said Lily, faintly.

"I should suppose it must have," Aunt Maria said, sarcastically. "I
don't see any reason why Maria's head should begin to ache when the
door-bell rang."

"Of course," said Lily. "I suppose she just felt she couldn't talk,
that was all."

"It's mighty queer," said Aunt Maria. She stood quite immovable. She
was so stern that even her rakishly tipped bonnet did not seem at all
funny. She looked at Lily and George Ramsey, and did not make a
movement to remove her wraps.

Lily took a little, faltering step towards her. "You are all covered
with snow, Miss Stillman," she said, in her sweet voice.

"I don't mind a little snow," said Aunt Maria.

"Won't you take this chair?" asked George Ramsey, pointing to the one
which he had just vacated.

"No, thank you," replied Aunt Maria. "I ain't going to sit down. I've
got on my best black silk, and I don't ever sit down in it when I can
help it. I'm going to take it