Suppose such a thing were really to happen; it would be dreadful.

She had thought her brother overfond of Dora's society, but the matter had never appeared to her in the serious aspect in which she saw it now.
She had intended to find Ralph, and speak to him about Mike's sister; but now she changed her mind.

She was wearing the teaberry gown, and she would attend to her own affairs as mistress of the house.

If Ralph could be so cruel as to marry Dora, and put her at the head of everything,--and if she were here at all, she would want to be at the head of everything,--then she, Miriam, would take off the teaberry gown, and lock it up in the old trunk.
"But can it be possible," she asked herself, as a tear or two began to show themselves in her eyes, "that Ralph could be so cruel as that ?" As she reached the door of the house, Cicely Drane was coming out.
Involuntarily Miriam threw her arms around her and folded her close to the teaberry gown.
Miriam was not in the habit of giving away to outbursts of this sort, and as she released Cicely she said with a little apologetic blush,-- "It is so nice to have you here.

I feel as if you ought not ever to go away." "I am sure I do not want to go, dear," said Cicely, with the smile of good-fellowship that always went to the heart of Miriam..