You MUST stay over Sunday . '' `` I really ca n't . I have to go to Charlottetown tonight , '' returned Aunt Eliza . `` Well , you 'll take off your things and stay to tea , at least , '' urged Felicity , as hospitably as her strained vocal chords would admit . `` Yes , I think I 'll do that . I want to get acquainted with my -- my nephews and nieces , '' said Aunt Eliza , with a rather pleasant glance around our group . If I could have associated the thought of such a thing with my preconception of Great-aunt Eliza I could have sworn there was a twinkle in her eye . But of course it was impossible . `` Wo n't you introduce yourselves , please ? '' Felicity shouted our names and Great-aunt Eliza shook hands all round . She performed the duty grimly and I concluded I must have been mistaken about the twinkle . She was certainly very tall and dignified and imposing -- altogether a great-aunt to be respected . Felicity and Cecily took her to the spare room and then left her in the sitting-room while they returned to the kitchen , to discuss the matter in family conclave . `` Well , and what do you think of dear Aunt Eliza ? '' asked Dan . `` S-s-s-sh , '' warned Cecily , with a glance at the half-open hall door . `` Pshaw , '' scoffed Dan , `` she ca n't hear us . There ought to be a law against anyone being as deaf as that . '' `` She 's not so old-looking as I expected , '' said Felix . `` If her hair was n't so white she would n't look much older than your mother . ''
`` You do n't have to be very old XXXXX be a great-aunt , '' said Cecily .
If about as at of over than to while with