? ? ? ? 'Is anything the matter, aunt?' said I, alarmed.
? ? ? ? 'Nothing, Trot,' she replied. 'Sit down, sit down. Little Blossom has been rather out of spirits, and I have been keeping her company. That's all.'
? ? ? ? I leaned my head upon my hand; and felt more sorry and downcast, as I sat looking at the fire, than I could have supposed possible so soon after the fulfilment of my brightest hopes. As I sat thinking, I happened to meet my aunt's eyes, which were resting on my face. There was an anxious expression in them, but it cleared directly.
? ? ? ? 'I assure you, aunt,' said I, 'I have been quite unhappy myself all night, to think of Dora's being so. But I had no other intention than to speak to her tenderly and lovingly about our home-affairs.'
? ? ? ? MY aunt nodded encouragement.
? ? ? ? 'You must have patience, Trot,' said she.
? ? ? ? 'Of course. Heaven knows I don't mean to be unreasonable, aunt!'
? ? ? ? 'No, no,' said my aunt. 'But Little Blossom is a very tender little blossom, and the wind must be gentle with her.'
? ? ? ? I thanked my good aunt, in my heart, for her tenderness towards my wife; and I was sure that she knew I did.
? ? ? ? 'Don't you think, aunt,' said I, after some further contemplation of the fire, 'that you could advise and counsel Dora a little, for our mutual advantage, now and then?'
? ? ? ? 'Trot,' returned my aunt, with some emotion, 'no! Don't ask me such a thing.
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