The account-book wasa little heap of white film on
the glowing coals. I am not going to have anything hidden orunderhanded, understand
that.
Not so much bother withkittens you know, Emily.
Emily had never seen a kitchen like this before. And candles cast suchqueer wavering
shadows.
She must say good-bye before any one found
her.
NEW MOONEmily found the drive through the blossomy
June world pleasant. It was the first time since the dreadful night when Ellen had
mether on the doorstep.
When I was a little girl, she said, I never spoke
until I wasspoken to. She almost ran across the room to the other door.
When I was a little girl, she said, I never spoke
until I wasspoken to. Emily, she said, last night we could not decide who should
takeyou.
Emily sat on the sofa with her eyes cast down, a
slight, black,indomitable little figure.
Every glance that fell on himhurt Emily; but she
sat still and gave no outward sign. Emily, on thefloor under the table, arranged her
legs comfortably and sattriumphant.
Emily, fighting desperately for self-control, went
into thesitting-room. Shell probably die of consumption same as her
fatherdid.
Since it has fallen to me to take her, I shall do
allthat is necessary, Wallace. She laid her face on the cold glass and sobbed
bitterly butbriefly.
Why, you know, if a fairy was really-truly it
wouldnt BE afairy, said Cousin Jimmy seriously. She always spoke crisply and used
nounnecessary words. In thehouse, we belong to fifty years ago, but on the farm she
has togive way.
Take the child up to bed and see that there are
plenty ofbedclothes.
But Ill knowafter this, she added with sudden vim,
and Ill never, NEVER doit again.
Aunt Elizabeth took the slip fromthe little shaking
hand and held it up. Emily was getting angrier and angrierall the time under the
table. Emily hated to have them looking at herfather like that.
Emily set her teeth, threw back her head with the
air of one whochallenges destiny, and drew.
But she had such an old habit of thinkingaloud to
Father. Shelonged for the old quiet and the sweet, remembered talks with
herfather.
Looking carefully around to ensure privacy, he
whispered.
She almost ran across the room to the other
door.
Ellen had retreated to the kitchen, thanking her
stars that THATwas over. She looked dismally at little Emily-in-the-glass. And Im
going to cry a littlebit now, Father, because I cant keep it back ALL the
time.
She would hear what was decided and nobody would
beany the wiser. She laid her face on the cold glass and sobbed bitterly butbriefly.