And presently he encountered his aunt.
"You certainly do neglect me," she said with her engaging and care-free laugh.

"Where have you been for a week ?" "In the flat-woods.

And, by the way, don't worry about any snakes.
Virginia said you were anxious." "Nonsense," said his aunt, amused, "Virginia is trying to plague you! I said nothing about snakes to her." "Didn't you say there were snakes in my district ?" "No.

I _did_ say there were _girls_ in your district, but it didn't worry me." His face was so serious that the smile died out on her own.
"Why, Garret," she said, "surely you are not offended, are you ?" "Not with you--Virginia has apparently taken her cue from that unspeakable Mrs.Van Dieman, and is acting like the deuce toward Shiela Cardross.

Couldn't you find an opportunity to discourage that sort of behaviour?
It's astonishingly underbred." His aunt's eyelids flickered as she regarded him.
"Come to see me to-night and explain a little more fully what Virginia has done, dear.