CHAPTER VI. THE DILEMMA.

InordertounderstandtheoccasionwhichhurriedHarryhome,wemustgobacktoCanema.Nina,aftertakingherlettersfromthehandsofTomtit,aswehaverelated,ranbackwiththemintoMrs.Nesbit'sroom,andsatherselfdowntoreadthem.Assheread,sheevidentlybecamequiteexcitedanddiscomposed,crumplingapaperwithherlittlehand,andtappingherfootimpatientlyonthecarpet. "There,now,I'msureIdon'tknowwhatIshalldo,AuntNesbit!"addressingheraunt,becauseitwasheroutspokenhabittotalktoanybodyorthingwhichhappenedtobesittingnexttoher."I'vegotmyselfintoaprettyscrapenow!" "Itoldyouyou'dgetintotrouble,oneofthesedays!" "Oh,youtoldmeso!Ifthere'sanythingIhate,itistohaveanybodytellme'Itoldyouso!'Butnowaunt,really,IknowI'vebeenfoolish,butIdon'tknowwhattodo.Herearetwogentlemencomingtogether,thatIwouldn'thavemeeteachotherherefortheworldandIdon'tknowreallywhatIhadbetterdo." "You'dbetterdojustasyouplease,asyoualwaysdo,andalwayswould,eversinceIknewyou,"saidAuntNesbit,inacalm,indifferenttone. "But,really,aunt,Idon'tknowwhat'spropertodoinsuchacase." "Yourandmynotionsofpropriety,Nina,aresodifferent,thatIdon'tknowhowtoadviseyou.Youseetheconsequences,now,ofnotattendingtotheadviceofyourfriends.Ialwaysknewtheseflirtationsofyourswouldbringyouintotrouble."AndAuntNesbitsaidthiswiththatquiet,satisfiedairwithwhichpreciseelderlypeoplesooftenedifytheirthoughtlessyoungfriendsunderdifficulties. "Well,Ididn'twantasermon,now,AuntNesbitbut,asyou'veseenagreatdealmoreoftheworldthanIhave,Ithoughtyoumighthelpmealittle,justtotellmewhetheritwouldn'tbeproperformetowriteandputoneofthesegentlemenofformakesomeexcuseforme,orsomething.I'msureIneverkepthousebefore.Idon'twanttodoanythingthatdon'tseemhospitableandyetIdon'twantthemtocometogether.Now,there,that'sflat!" Therewasalongpause,inwhichNinasatvexedandcoloring,bitingherlips,andnestlinguneasilyinherseat. Mrs.Nesbitlookedcalmandconsiderate,andNinabegantohopethatshewastakingthecasealittletoheart. Atlastthegoodoldladylookedup,andsaid,veryquietly,"Iwonderwhattimeitis." Ninathoughtshewasdebatingtheexpediencyofsendingsomemessageandthereforeshecrossedtheroomwithgreatalacrity,tolookattheoldclockintheentry. "It'shalf-pasttwo,aunt!"andshestood,withherlipsapart,lookingatMrs.Nesbitforsomesuggestion. "IwasgoingtotellRosa,"saidshe,abstractedly,"thatthatonioninthestuffingdoesnotagreewithme.Itroseonmystomachallyesterdaymorningbutit'stoolatenow." Ninaactuallystampedwithanger. "AuntNesbit,youarethemostselfishpersonIeversawinmylife!" "Nina,child,youastonishme!"saidAuntNesbit,withherwontedplacidity."What'sthematter?" "Idon'tcare!"saidNina"Idon'tcareabit!Idon'tseehowpeoplecanbeso!Ifadogshouldcometomeandtellmehewasintrouble,IthinkIshouldlistentohim,andshowsomekindofinteresttohelphim!Idon'tcarehowfoolishanybodyhasbeeniftheyareintrouble,I'dhelpthem,ifIcouldandIthinkyoumightthinkenoughofittogivemesomelittleadvice!" "Oh,youaretalkingaboutthataffair,yet?"saidheraunt."Why,IbelieveItoldyouIdidn'tknowwhattoadvise,didn'tI?Shouldn'tgivewaytothistemper,Ninait'sveryunladylike,besidesbeingsinful.But,then,Idon'tsupposeit'sanyuseformetotalk!"AndAuntNesbit,withanabusedair,gotup,walkedquietlytothelooking-glass,tookoffhermorningcap,unlockedherdrawer,andlaiditintookoutanother,whichNinacouldnotseedifferedaparticlefromthelast,helditupthoughtfullyonherhand,andappearedabsorbedinthecontemplationofit,—whileNina,swellingwithamixtureofangerandmortification,stoodregardingherassheleisurelypickedouteachbow,andfinally,withadecorousairofsolemnity,arrangedituponherhead,pattingittenderlydown. "AuntNesbit,"shesaid,suddenly,asifthewordshurther,"IthinkIspokeimproperly,andI'mverysorryforit.Ibegyourpardon." "Oh,it'snomatter,childIdidn'tcareaboutit.I'mprettyw