"I shall do no such thing, Master Frank," said Gertrude. "I am willing
enough to see Kate, and invite her here too, for she is fine looking and
appears well, even if she is a music teacher; but this Fanny
Middleton--Ugh! I'll never associate with her on terms of equality, or own
her as my sister either."
"I do not think you will," said Frank; but Gertrude knew not what cause he
had for so saying.
After he had quitted the apartment, Mrs. Cameron and Gertrude tried to
think of some way to let Fanny know that she was not wanted in their
family. "Dear me," said Gertrude, "I will not go to Saratoga, and be
obliged to see Frank make a dolt of himself with this plebian Kentuckian.
If she were only rich and accomplished, why, it would be different, and
the fact of her being from Kentucky would increase her attractions. But
now it is too bad!" And Gertrude actually cried with vexation and
mortified pride. Poor creature! How mistaken she was with regard to Fanny
Middleton, and so she one day learned.
But as the reader is doubtless anxious to hear of Fanny's introduction to
Mrs. Cameron and Gertrude, we will give a description of it in the next
chapter.