'Gone out with the man to see a farm two miles off,' she said. 'He
told me I might stay in the house, or roam where I liked, and I saw
you all looking so happy; I've been watching you this long time.'
'Indeed!' said Mr. Underwood, 'till you captured two of us! Well, we
are obliged for the introduction, especially if you are to be our
neighbour.'
'And my cousins will be friends with me,' continued Mary Alda. 'I'm
all alone, you know.'
'No, I did not know,' said Mr. Underwood. 'Are you the only child?'
'Yes,' she said, looking wistfully at the groups around her; 'and it
is very horrid--oh dear! who is that pretty one? No, there's another
of them!'
Mr. Underwood laughed heartily. 'I suppose you mean Wilmet and Alda,'
he said. 'Come, girls, and see your new cousin--Mary, did you say!--
Your name backward, Alda Mary.'
'Mary,' she repeated. 'Papa calls me Mary, but Mamma wants it to be
Marilda all in one word, because she says it is more distinguished;
but I like a sensible name like other people.'
Mr. Underwood was much amused. He felt he had found a character in
his newly-discovered cousin. She was Underwood all over in his eyes,
used to the characteristic family features, although entirely devoid
of that delicacy and refinement of form and complexion that was so
remarkable in himself and in most of his children, who were all,
except poor little Cherry, a good deal alike, and most of them
handsome.
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