Mrs. Lister was a distant cousin of Mr. Verne, and having six
marriageable daughters on hand, had recourse to much diplomacy in
the way of matrimonial speculations. For several years she had been
in the habit of spending the New Year with the Verne family, each
year adding one more eligible, until she has now the happy six.
It had ever been the boast of Mrs. Lister that she had attended
boarding school, and carried off several prizes for her classic
ability; and in order to establish the fact, had named her six
daughters after six of the Muses. Clio, the eldest, inherited the
largest part of her mother's ability.
The former often regretted that three unruly boys came to interrupt
the succession of the classic nine.
But all this addition of inspiration at this festive season did not
_inspire_ the Verne family with any such high-toned sentiments
as might have been expected.
"Marguerite Verne," explained the haughty Evelyn, the imperious
first-born of the family, "you are enough to drive anyone
distracted! How can you submit so tamely to being bored to death by
such pests? Indeed, Aunt Hester with all her wisdom is preferable to
that empty headed woman and her muses.
Pages:
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25