A glance at the fireplace, however, showed her the cause of the terror, and she burst into a hearty fit of laughter.
"Charley," she shouted, "here's Eliza misbehaving again." "I'll settle her," answered a masculine voice, and the young man dashed into the room.

He had a brown horse-cloth in his hand, which he threw over the basket, making it fast with a piece of twine so as to effectually imprison its inmate, while his aunt ran across to reassure her visitors.
"It is only a rock snake," she explained.
"Oh, Bertha!" "Oh, Monica!" gasped the poor exhausted gentlewomen.
"She's hatching out some eggs.

That is why we have the fire.

Eliza always does better when she is warm.

She is a sweet, gentle creature, but no doubt she thought that you had designs upon her eggs.