Nancy was gleeful over Anne's wrath.
"I'm glad she's yours, Annie darling! Dad always said the whole world was my only kin, but I never ran against anyone who wanted to look me over before she left me a fortune! Who ever heard of North Hero Island and where in goodness is it?"
"I remember, now, that her name was awfully queer—Aunt Sa-something or other, and North Hero Island isn't utterly unknown, Nancy, to the can't even remember! I wish it had happened to Lake Champlain. I saw it once on a road-map when I was touring last fall with Professor and Mrs. Scott, and Professor Scott said it was a locality picturesquely historic—I remember."
Claire turned the letter over and over.
"I think it's all awfully thrilling! An aunt you can't even remember! I wish it had happened to me! It would be something so different. It's just like a story. But what a lot she does think of her forefathers!"
"Well, the Leavitts are a very old family and they are a New England family, too, although I was born in California," interrupted Anne with a dignity that would have gladdened the great-aunt's heart.
Nancy was again provoked to merriment.
"Dad always said that the only other Leavitt he knew was a cow-puncher! He could lick anyone on the plains."
Anne ignored this. She was frowning in deep thought.
"The tiresome part is that—if I don't go—if I tell her about going to Russia—she may write to my guardian!"