THE SECOND BEST 



told us tales of her youth, and of our mQther's court- 

 ship ; she beguiled our convalescent hours with fairy 

 stories and inspired us with a desire for far-off places. 

 Were we homesick as darkness came on? We were 

 encouraged by promises that the morrow should cer- 

 tainly see us at home again; and if with the brightness 

 of day we concluded to postpone our departure, we 

 were cuddled and made much of; even a pan of cookies 

 was baked for us, heart-shaped ones! Only the other 

 day I heard of two self-supporting women who 

 adopted the three orphaned babies of their brother and 

 divided their own scanty store joyfully with them. 

 Dare we say that the maiden aunt has missed her vo- 

 cation in this world? She herself would insist that 

 she had fallen far below her ideals, but for the good of 

 the race shall we not concede that she occupies at least 

 the second-best place? 



In the early days of my first housekeeping, ambitious 

 to celebrate a particular anniversary with an especially 

 entertaining and delightful company, I invited the 

 most gifted talkers, the cleverest after-dinner speak- 



291 



