Little Lily smiled her bright girlish smile, and threw both her arms
round grand Aunt Becky's neck.
'You good dear Aunt Becky, 'twas so kind and like you to come--you and
Gertie. And oh, Geminie! what a grand pair of ladies!' and she made a
little rustic courtesy, like Nell in the farce. 'And I never saw this
before (a near peep at Gertrude's necklace), and Aunt Becky, what
beautiful lace. And does not she look handsome, Gertie? I _never_ saw
her look _so_ handsome. She'll be the finest figure there. There's no
such delicate waist anywhere.' And she set her two slender little
forefingers and thumbs together, as if spanning it. 'You've no chance
beside her, Gertie; she'll set all the young fellows a-sighing and
simpering.'
'You wicked little rogue! I'll beat you black and blue, for making fun
of old Aunt Becky,' cried Miss Rebecca, and ran a little race at her,
about two inches to a step; her fan raised in her finger and thumb, and
a jolly smile twinkling in her face, for she knew it was true about her
waist, and she liked to be quizzed by the daring little girl. Her
diamonds were on too, and her last look in her mirror had given her a
satisfactory assurance, and she always played with little Lily, when
they met; everyone grew gay and girlish with her.
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