But as for friends--! Well, I suppose one has no right to complain when one gets to be as old as I am; but I declare I believe that those I love best would sooner be without me than with me." "Do you mean me, aunt ?" "No, my dear, I don't mean you.

Of course my life would have been very different if you could have consented to remain with me till you were married.

But I didn't mean you.

I don't know that I meant any one.

You shouldn't mind what an old woman like me says." "You're a little melancholy because you're going away." "No, indeed.