The Staying Guest

“No, aunty,” said Ladybird, rousing herself, “no; that is not necessary. If Lavinia Lovell is your niece, and she is, then her place is here and my place is not.”

“What are you going to do, baby?” said Miss Priscilla, kissing Ladybird with unusual tenderness.

“Well,” said Ladybird, judiciously, as one who was thinking out a great problem – “well, I don’t know; but I think I shall go to live with Chester and Stella.”

“You couldn’t do better,” said Aunt Priscilla, laughing.

“Will you come, too?” said Ladybird, patting Miss Priscilla’s apple-cheek.

“Yes,” said Miss Priscilla; but nobody heard her except Ladybird, for Mr. Ward had already begun to speak.

“In the interests of my client,” he said, “I am obliged to press the claims of Lavinia Lovell, the oldest daughter of John Lovell, against the claims of Ladybird, a younger daughter of the same man.”

“But I make no claims,” said Ladybird, who was cuddling in Miss Priscilla’s arms. “If that other Lavinia wants my place, and if she has claims and papers and things to prove she has a right to it, why, let her come and take it, that’s all.”

“That’s all,” said Miss Priscilla.

“Well, she has,” said Mr. Ward,

“Yes,” said Miss Dorinda; “go on.”

“There is only this,” said Mr. Ward: “my papers, which I have shown to you ladies, prove conclusively that Lavinia Lovell, whom I have just brought to you, is your niece; and this other child, whom you have accepted as your niece, is not such, although she is the daughter of your sister’s husband by his second wife.”

“Yes,” said Miss Priscilla Flint, holding Ladybird closer.

“Yes,” said Ladybird, in a contented tone.

“And so,” said Mr. Ward, going on with some difficulty – “and so, Lavinia Lovell, the child I have brought to you, is your niece, and consequently dependent upon you.”

“Yes,” said Miss Priscilla Flint, still holding Ladybird close.

“Yes,” said Ladybird, still contentedly.

“And of course,” went on Mr. Ward, “you, as her aunts, and her only living relatives, are responsible for her welfare.”

“Certainly,” said Miss Dorinda, who was holding the calm, golden-haired child by the hand.

“Certainly,” said Miss Priscilla, who was holding Ladybird and Cloppy both in her arms.

“Then,” said Mr. Ward, “may I assume that you, the Misses Flint, undertake the maintenance and support of Lavinia Lovell?”

“Certainly,” said Miss Priscilla Flint, with great dignity, although she spoke over the shoulder of a turbulent child, and a no less quivering dog – “certainly we undertake the support and maintenance of the child who is, as you have proved to us, the daughter of our sister Lavinia.”

“And what about me, aunty?” said Ladybird.

“You are ours, also, child,” said Miss Priscilla; “and I would just like to see you get away!”

“You’re a nice lady, aunty,” said Ladybird, stroking the withered cheek of Miss Priscilla. “And do you mean that it is settled that I am to live here with this new Lavinia Lovell?”

“It isn’t a new Lavinia Lovell,” said Aunt Dorinda, “for you aren’t Lavinia Lovell at all; you’re only Ladybird Lovell.”

“That’s enough for me,” said the child, chuckling; “for you know perfectly well, Aunt Dorinda, that I never wanted to be anything but Ladybird.”

“Well, then,” said Mr. Ward, “do I understand, Miss Flint, that you will keep both of these children?”

“It seems to me,” said Miss Priscilla, grimly, “that I have no choice. Lavinia Lovell I will keep with pleasure, because she is the daughter of my sister; and Ladybird Lovell I keep because I love her.”

“And because I love you,” said Ladybird, as she flung her arms round Miss Priscilla’s neck.

CHAPTER XX

HALF-SISTERS

The next day Chester Humphreys and Stella Russell sat talking together. They were sitting on the ground under a certain historic apple-tree, and the young man held the girl’s very pretty hand in both his own.

“Stella mine,” he said, “I don’t like the idea of that new Lavinia taking the place of our Ladybird.”

“She doesn’t take her place,” said Stella; “anybody can see that Ladybird has her own place with the Flint ladies, and nobody can put her out of it.”

“I understand all that,” said Chester, in his decided way; “but all the same, this new girl is the Flint heiress, and will eventually be the owner of Primrose Farm – that dear old place that has belonged to the Flints for generations.”

“So she will,” said Stella; “and it’s perfectly horrid! I think Miss Priscilla ought to deed the place to Ladybird. That child loves every nook and corner of it. In the short time she has been here she has made herself a part of it, and I can no more think of Primrose Hall without Ladybird, than without Miss Priscilla and Miss Dorinda.”

“But in a few years,” said Chester, musingly, “there will be no Miss Priscilla and Miss Dorinda.”

“Of course,” said Stella, “that’s what I often think. And after they’re gone, that place must belong to Ladybird.”

“But it can’t, dear,” said Chester. “You see, Lavinia is the rightful heir, and of course, after the death of the old ladies, the farm must belong to her. But they aren’t dead yet,” he went on, cheerfully, “and meantime I have troubles of my own. Little girl, when are you going to marry me?”

“Is that one of your troubles?” said Stella, smiling straight into his brown eyes.

“It will be a trouble,” said Chester, “until you tell me the day when my troubles shall end.”

“Then you’ll be troubled for a good while,” said Stella, still smiling, “because I’m not going to marry you for ever and ever so long.”

“You’re not! Well, I just guess you are, miss!”

“Indeed!” said Stella. “And, pray, what have you to say about it?”

“Oh, I haven’t anything to say,” responded young Humphreys, airily; “but I can scream for help; I’ll call in Ladybird.”

“Here she is now,” called Ladybird’s cheery voice. “What do you want of her?”

“Nothing,” called back Stella, quickly; “nothing but your delightful society. Come and sit with us.”

“Thank you, we will,” said Ladybird, who was accompanied by Lavinia; and the two children came and seated themselves on the grass under the old apple-tree.

“We’re getting acquainted with each other,” said Ladybird, as, drawing a long sigh, she settled herself in a comfortable position, and rolled Cloppy into a small ball in her lap.