“The young folks will all be flocking here by to-morrow,” said the captain; and Miss Prince answered “Surely,” in a tone of command, rather than entreaty.  She knew very well how the news of Nan’s coming must be flying about the town, and she almost regretted the fact of her own previous silence about this great event.  In the mean time Nan was talking to the two gentlemen as if she had already been to her room to smooth her hair, which her aunt looked at reproachfully from time to time, though the sunshine had not wholly left it.  The girl was quite unconscious of herself, and glad to have the company and sympathy of these kind friends.  She thought once that if she had a brother she would like him to be of young Mr. Gerry’s fashion.  He had none of the manner which constantly insisted upon her remembering that he was a man and she a girl; she could be good friends with him in the same way that she had been with some Oldfields schoolfellows, and after the captain had reluctantly taken his leave, they had a pleasant talk about out-of-door life and their rides and walks, and were soon exchanging experiences in a way that Miss Nancy smiled upon gladly.  It was not to be wondered at that she could not get used to so great a change in her life.  She could not feel sure yet that she no longer had a secret, and that this was the niece whom she had so many years dreaded and disclaimed.  George Gerry had taken the niece’s place in her affections, yet here was Anna, her own namesake, who showed plainly in so many ways the same descent as herself, being as much a Prince as herself in spite of her mother’s low origin and worse personal traits, and the loutish companions to whom she had always persuaded herself poor Nan was akin.  And it was by no means sure that the last of the Princes was not the best of them; she was very proud of her brother’s daughter, and was more at a loss to know how to make excuses for being shortsighted and neglectful.  Miss Prince hated to think that Nan had any but the pleasantest associations with her nearest relative; she must surely keep the girl’s affection now.  She meant to insist at any rate upon Dunport’s being her niece’s home for the future, though undoubtedly it would be hard at first to break with the many associations of Oldfields.  She must write that very night to Dr. Leslie to thank him for his care, and to again express her regret that Anna’s misguided young mother should have placed such restrictions upon the child’s relations with her nearest of kin, and so have broken the natural ties of nature.  And she would not stop there; she would blame herself generously and say how sorry she was that she had been governed by her painful recollections of a time she should now strive to forget.  Dr. Leslie must be asked to come and join his ward for a few days, and then they would settle her plans for the future.  She should give her niece a handsome allowance at any rate, and then, as Miss Prince looked across the room and forgot her own thoughts in listening to the young people’s friendly talk, a sudden purpose flashed through her mind.  The dream of her heart began to unfold itself slowly:  could anything be so suitable, so comforting to her own mind, as that they should marry each other?