In lieu of an abstract, here is a brief excerpt of the content:

CHAPTER VI The Dilemma IN ORDER TO UNDERSTAND the occasion which hurried Harry home, we must go back to Canema. Nina, after taking her letters from the hands of Tomtit, as we have related, ran back with them into Mrs. Nesbit's room, and sat herself down to read them. As she read, she evidently became quite excited and discomposed, crumpling a paper with her little hand, and tapping her foot impatiently on the carpet. "There, now, I'm sure I don't know what I shall do, Aunt Nesbit !" addressing her aunt, because it was her outspoken habit to talk to any body or thing which happened to be sitting next to her. "I've got myself into a pretty scrape now!" "I told you you'd get into trouble, one of these days!" "O, you told me so! If there's anything I hate, it is to have anybody tell me 'I told you so!' But, now, aunt, really, I know I've been foolish, but I don't know what to do. Here are two gentlemen coming together, that I wouldn't have meet each other here for the world; and I don't know really what I had better do." "You'd better do just as you please, as you always do, and always would, ever since I knew you," said Aunt Nesbit, in a calm, indifferent tone. "But, really, aunt, I don't know what's proper to do in such a case." "Your and my notions of propriety, Nina, are so different, that I don't know how to advise you. You see the consequences, now, of not attending to the advice of your friends. I always knew these flirtations of yours would bring you into trouble." And Aunt Nesbit said this with that quiet, satisfied air with which precise elderly people so often edify their thoughtless young friends under difficulties . "Well, I didn't want a sermon, now, Aunt Nesbit; but, as you've seen a great deal more of the world than I have, I thought you 67 68 DRED might help me a little, just to tell me whether it wouldn't be proper for me to write and put one of these gentlemen off; or make some excuse for me, or something. I'm sure 7 never kept house before. I don't want to do anything that don't seem hospitable; and yet I don't want them to come together. Now, there, that's flat!" There was a long pause, in which Nina sat vexed and coloring, biting her lips, and nestling uneasily in her seat. Mrs. Nesbit looked calm and considerate, and Nina began to hope that she was taking the case a little to heart. At last the good old lady looked up, and said, very quietly, "I wonder what time it is." Nina thought she was debating the expediency of sending some message; and therefore she crossed the room with great alacrity, to look at the old clock in the entry. "It's half-past two, aunt!" and she stood, with her lips apart, looking at Mrs. Nesbit for some suggestion. "I was going to tell Rosa," said she, abstractedly, "that that onion in the stuffing does not agree with me. It rose on my stomach all yesterday morning; but it's too late now." Nina actually stamped with anger. "Aunt Nesbit, you are the most selfish person I ever saw in my life!" "Nina, child, you astonish me!" said Aunt Nesbit, with her wonted placidity. "What's the matter?" "I don't care!" said Nina, "I don't care a bit! I don't see how people can be so! If a dog should come to me and tell me he was in trouble, I think I should listen to him, and show some kind of interest to help him! I don't care how foolish anybody has been; if they are in trouble, I'd help them, if I could; and I think you might think enough of it to give me some little advice!" "O, you are talking about that affair, yet?" said her aunt. "Why, I believe I told you I didn't know what to advise, didn't I? Shouldn't give way to this temper, Nina; it's very unladylike, besides being sinful. But, then, I don't suppose it's any use for me to talk!" And Aunt Nesbit, with an abused air, got up, walked quietly to...

Share