292 
VISITORS. 
“ Why, yes,” said Richard. “ The hotel 
has been quite empty for the past two 
weeks. We have only had people to dinner 
three times, and then people from the city 
to spend the day, and Mr. and Mrs. Cre- 
diton to tea twice.” 
“They don’t count, because they are just 
like our own family,” said Annie. “But I 
think somebody will come to-morrow,— 
though I hope not.” 
Annie’s prophecy was fulfilled the next 
day in the shape of their aunt Meredith, 
as the children called her, (though Sidney 
always insisted that she was only an aunt- 
in-law,) and her two children, Antoinette 
and Matilda. These two little girls—or 
young ladies, as they preferred to be called— 
were no great favourites with the children 
at The Meadows, though the latter did their 
best to entertain them,—especially Annie, to 
whose share they naturally fell. They were 
always very much dressed, with a great deal 
of fashion, and could never run nor play 
without fear of breaking or tearing or 
spoiling something, or putting their hair 
out of curl, or ruining their complexion. 
They screamed at insects and mice, and were 
