“Of course she’ll stay here, and we must make the best of it.  Perhaps we can train her to be a little less exacting.  And then, too, you can arrange to have the servants wait on her.  You needn’t do it yourself, always.”

“Patty, you’re a great comfort.  If anybody can train that woman, you can.  So please try, for as you say, she’ll have to stay, I suppose, until father comes home.  Just think, she’s father’s own sister!  But she isn’t a bit like him.  Dad isn’t fussy at all.”

“No, your father is of a lovely disposition.  And so kind and indulgent to you, Mona.”

“Yes; Dad is a darling.  But we don’t seem to get into the best society, as he expected, when he built this big house.  I wonder why.”

“Don’t bother about that now,” said Patty, who was going to talk to Mona some time on that very subject, but was not ready yet.  “Now, as to Aunt Adelaide, for I may as well call her that since she wishes it.  I think, Mona, the only way to manage her is to be always kind and sweet to her, but not to let her impose upon us.  I can see she is rather exacting, and if we always give in to her whims, she will always expect it.  So let’s start out, as we mean to continue.  I’ll read to her occasionally, but I can’t always be at her beck and call.  Perhaps Janet can do it.”

“Yes, Janet is a good reader.  But, of course, Aunt Adelaide would find fault with her reading, as she did with yours.”

“Yes, I expect that’s her nature.  But she’ll be easy enough to get along with, if we all play fair.  We’ll have to give and take.  And don’t judge her by this morning.  She was tired and worn, and, as yet, unused to her new surroundings.  She’ll feel more at home to-morrow.”

“She can’t act more at home!  Well, I’ll give her a trial, Patty, but I warn you, if she doesn’t get placider, I’ll suit myself with another chaperon, that’s what I’ll do!”

The girls did not see their visitor again until luncheon time, and then it was the same situation repeated.  But few of the viands served at table were acceptable to Aunt Adelaide.  She provided the butler with certain “health foods” of her own, and gave him elaborate instructions for preparing them, and then found much fault with the results of his labours.  Patty had to laugh when Mrs. Parsons tasted, critically, a dish the butler anxiously offered.

“You’ve cooked it too much!” she exclaimed; “or, no,—­you’ve not cooked it enough!  I can scarcely tell which it is,—­but it isn’t right!”

“I’m sorry, ma’am,” said the surprised James.  “Shall I cook another portion?”

“No,” said Mrs. Parsons, resignedly.  “I’ll make out with this, though it is very distasteful.”

As she had really eaten a hearty luncheon, Mona said only, “I am sorry, Aunt Adelaide; but perhaps you will enjoy the ice cream.”  At which she brightened perceptibly, saying: 

“Yes, ice cream is my favourite dessert, and I hope, Mona, you will have it often.”