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diff --git a/28441-h/28441-h.htm b/28441-h/28441-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..4ab2a5d --- /dev/null +++ b/28441-h/28441-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,8282 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" +"http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> +<head> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> +<title> +The Project Gutenberg eBook of A Modern Cinderella, by Amanda M. Douglas. +</title> + +<style type="text/css"> + p {margin-top: 0.5em; text-align: justify; margin-bottom: 0.5em;} + body {margin-left: 11%; margin-right: 10%;} + a {text-decoration: none;} + @media screen { + hr.pb {margin:30px 0; width:100%; border:none;border-top:thin dashed silver;} + .pagenum {display: inline; font-size: x-small; text-align: right; position: absolute; right: 2%; padding: 1px 3px; font-style: normal; font-variant:normal; font-weight:normal; text-decoration: none; background-color: inherit; border:1px solid #eee;} + .pncolor {color: silver;} + } + @media print { + hr.pb {border:none;page-break-after: always;} + .pagenum { display:none; } + } + h3 {text-align:center; font-weight:normal; font-size:1.2em;} + h1 {text-align:center; font-weight:normal; font-size:1.6em; margin: 40px auto 0 auto;} + hr.major {width: 65%; margin-top: 2em; margin-bottom: 2em; border:none; border-bottom:1px solid silver; clear:both;} + h2 {text-align:center; font-weight:normal; font-size:1.4em;} +</style> + +</head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of A Modern Cinderella, by Amanda M. Douglas + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: A Modern Cinderella + +Author: Amanda M. Douglas + +Release Date: March 29, 2009 [EBook #28441] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A MODERN CINDERELLA *** + + + + +Produced by Roger Frank and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Canada Team at http://www.pgdpcanada.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<hr class='pb' /> +<div style='margin: 2em auto 2em auto; text-align: center;'> +<img alt='emblem' src='images/titlepg.png' /> +</div> +<hr class='pb' /> +<p style='text-align:center; font-size:smaller; margin: 40px auto;'>Made in U. S. A.</p> +<hr class='pb' /> +<h1>A MODERN CINDERELLA</h1> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='CHAPTER_I_AT_THE_PALACE' id='CHAPTER_I_AT_THE_PALACE'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER I</h2> +<h3>AT THE PALACE</h3> +</div> +<p>“You may stay down here until nine +o’clock if you like,” said Bridget. “It’s awful +cold upstairs. Be sure to wrap yourself good +in the old blanket. And put a little coal on +the range. If you let my fire go out, I’ll +skin you alive.”</p> +<p>When Marilla first heard that threat she +shuddered all over. If you scratched a +little bit of skin off it hurt dreadfully. But +Bridget never did it. Sometimes she hit +her a slap on the shoulder. She couldn’t +even bear to skin a rabbit. “What do you +mean by it?” Marilla gained courage to ask +once, when she came to feel at home.</p> +<p>“Oh, I don’t know. My mother used to +say it. Sometimes she took a strap to us, but +she wasn’t ever real hard.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_2' name='page_2'></a>2</span></p> +<p>Marilla knew about the strap in Bethany +Home though she didn’t often get it.</p> +<p>“I’ll remember about the fire.”</p> +<p>“Good night!” Bridget was off.</p> +<p>She always took two or three evenings +out in the week and had Sunday afternoon +instead of Thursday because they had late +dinners during the week. She was very +excellent help, so Mrs. Borden let her have +her own way.</p> +<p>It was nice and warm in the kitchen; clean, +too. Bridget couldn’t abide a dirty kitchen. +Marilla had wiped the dishes, scoured out +the sink and set the chairs straight around. +It was a basement kitchen with a dining room +above. The front was the furnace cellar, +the middle for vegetables and what Bridget +called truck.</p> +<p>Marilla sat in the little old rocking chair +and put her feet on the oven hearth. It was +very nice to rock to and fro and no babies to +tend nor Jack to bother with. She sang a +few hymns she knew, she said over several, +little poems she had learned and spelled a +few words. Bridget had turned the gas low, +and she couldn’t reach it without getting on +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_3' name='page_3'></a>3</span> +a chair or she could have read. So she told +herself a story that she had read.</p> +<p>It was very comfortable. She was getting +a bit sleepy. Suppose she took a teeny nap as +she did sometimes when she was waiting +for Bridget. So she shook up the old cushion, +brought up the stool, sat on that and laid +her head in the chair. And now she wasn’t +a bit sleepy. She thought of the stove and +put on some coal, lest she <i>might</i> fall asleep.</p> +<p>She hoped it would be warmer tomorrow +when she took out the twins. Then she would +venture to stop at the book store window and +look at the pictures on the magazine covers. +There was a baby that looked so like the twins +it made her laugh. She didn’t think the twins +pretty at all. They had round chubby faces +and almost round eyes, and mouths that +looked as if they were just ready to whistle, +and brown fuzzy hair without a bit of curl +in it. But they <i>were</i> good, “as good as +kittens,” their mother said. She did so +wish she had a kitten. She had brought such +a pretty one from the store one day, a real +maltese with black whiskers, but Bridget +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_4' name='page_4'></a>4</span> +said she couldn’t have a cat forever round +under her feet and made her take it back.</p> +<p>Jack was past five and very pretty, but +bad as he could be. Bridget said he was a +“holy terror,” but she thought holiness was +goodness and didn’t see the connection. He +was a terror, that any one could see.</p> +<p>There was a queer shady look in the corners. +She wasn’t a bit afraid. The children at +Bethany Home weren’t allowed to be. She +liked this a great deal better. She wasn’t +compelled to eat her whole breakfast off of +oatmeal, and always had such lovely desserts +for dinner. And sometimes Mrs. Borden +gave her and Jack a banana or a bit of candy. +Oh, yes, she would much rather live here +even if Jack was bad and pinched her occasionally +though his mother slapped him for it, or +pinched him back real hard.</p> +<p>What made this lovely, rosy, golden light +in the room? It was like a soft sunset. She +had been saying over a lot of Mother Goose +rhymes; of course she was too old for such +nonsense and Jack didn’t like them. And in +“One, two, buckle my shoe,” she wondered +which she liked best: “Nineteen, twenty, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_5' name='page_5'></a>5</span> +my stomach’s empty,” or “nineteen, twenty, +I’ve got a plenty.” That was Bethany +Home where you only had so much for supper +and one little cracker. And here there +was plenty. It made her laugh.</p> +<p>And then suddenly there was a pretty little +woman in the room dressed in something soft +and shining and in her hand she held a stick +with a bunch of gay bows at the end. She +was so sweet and smiling that Marilla couldn’t +feel afraid.</p> +<p>“You don’t know me, Cinderella?” she +began, looking at the child.</p> +<p>“Oh, that isn’t my name.”</p> +<p>“You don’t sit in the ashes any more but +I dare say you brush up and carry them out +in the morning. But I don’t find Cinderellas +often at this time of night.”</p> +<p>“I wish I was Cinderella. I have a little foot +though, only it don’t look so in these big +brogans. I put some soles inside of them, +bits of velvet carpet and they keep my feet +nice and warm. I do think if the glass slipper +wasn’t too teeny weeny I could wear it.”</p> +<p>“You’re a cute one. About the soles, now. +Most children haven’t any useful ideas,” and +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_6' name='page_6'></a>6</span> +she laughed. “I knew who you were; now can +you guess who I am?”</p> +<p>“Why if I was Cinderella you’d be a fairy +godmother. But there ain’t any such things; +nor Santa Claus. I like the stories about ’em +and I’m awful sorry. I’m only Mrs. Borden’s +bound-out girl, but I like it here.”</p> +<p>“You think so?” She gave the most curious, +delightful laugh. “You are Cinderella and +I am the fairy godmother.”</p> +<p>Marilla sprang up and studied her. She +was so pretty and her gown looked as if +it was sprinkled with diamond dust. She had +never seen any one like her, but at twelve +her range of observation had been rather +limited.</p> +<p>“Well, what do you think of me?”</p> +<p>Marilla stood wide eyed and speechless.</p> +<p>“Why—you are very beautiful. Oh, I wish +you were a fairy godmother! I’d like to go +to fairy land. I don’t think any one would +mind much, but I do believe the twins would +care. Bridget says there isn’t any such thing +and then she tells about a little girl who was +toted away and had to stay seven years.”</p> +<p>“You couldn’t stay that long, and times +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_7' name='page_7'></a>7</span> +have changed, and you have no envious +sisters. You’re a rather lonely little body +with no father or mother.”</p> +<p>“Oh, how did you know that?”</p> +<p>She laughed, the softest, merriest laugh.</p> +<p>Marilla looked and looked, the little body +was so sweet and mysterious.</p> +<p>“Oh, fairy godmothers know a great many +things. They keep watch over the Cinderellas +and then when they find one to their liking +they appear to her, and then strange things +happen.”</p> +<p>“Yes they are strange,” said the little +girl.</p> +<p>“Would you like to go to the ball?”</p> +<p>“Oh! Why I’m afraid I wouldn’t know +what to do,” hesitatingly, “I’ve never seen +a ball.”</p> +<p>“You can dance. I saw you dancing with +an organ grinder.”</p> +<p>“Oh, yes, I can dance that way, but––”</p> +<p>“Would you like to go?”</p> +<p>“Oh, wouldn’t I!” Marilla’s eyes shone with +delight. “If you were a fairy godmother you +could put me in some clothes.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_8' name='page_8'></a>8</span></p> +<p>Marilla didn’t believe in it at all, but it +was very funny.</p> +<p>“Then just step out here.”</p> +<p>She did with the strangest sort of feeling. +The fairy touched her with the wand. Her +clothes fell in a heap. The big shoes dropped +off. There was a shimmery pink silk frock with +lace and ribbons and the daintiest pink kid +slippers with diamond buckles and pink silk +stockings with lovely clocks. She went dancing +around the kitchen light as a feather, her +eyes shining, her cheeks like roses, her lips +full of smiles. She was fairly bewitched.</p> +<p>“You’ll do,” exclaimed godmother, and +she threw a beautiful white cloak about her.</p> +<p>“But we haven’t a pumpkin in the house +and Bridget catches all the mice and burns +them up. So you can’t make a carriage––”</p> +<p>“There’s one at the door.” The hall seemed +all alight and they went out. Yes, there +was a coach with lamps on both sides, two +horses and a driver, besides a footman who +helped them in with a fine air, and drove off +as gay as if it was Christmas night, though it +were really March.</p> +<p>The streets were alight, the windows shining +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_9' name='page_9'></a>9</span> +in splendor. Marilla had never seen anything +like it. Presently they stopped at what seemed +to the little girl a great palace with broad +white marble steps and tall carved columns +lighted by myriads of colored lights and the +vestibule was hung with vines. There were +statues standing round that looked like real +people only they were so white from top +to toe. Then they went up another beautiful +stairway that led to a gallery where +there were numbers of inviting little rooms, +and throngs of elegantly dressed people, not +any larger than boys and girls. A maid took +off their wraps, and brushed Marilla’s hair +and it fell in golden rings all over her head.</p> +<p>“What beautiful hair,” she exclaimed, “just +like threads of silk. You must let it grow long. +And such lovely eyes; but she’s thin.”</p> +<p>“Yes, rather,” said godmother, “But she +has dancing feet. She’s a real Cinderella.”</p> +<p>“There’s so many of them and only one +Prince. What a pity!”</p> +<p>“But each has her turn, and they are very +happy.”</p> +<p>Then Marilla glanced around the gallery. +That was well lighted and had a cushioned +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_10' name='page_10'></a>10</span> +seat against the wall. Groups were sitting +together or rambling about. And a great circular +room, down stairs lighted by a magnificent +chandelier whose prisms seemed in +constant motion and rayed off every imaginable +color with a faint musical sound.</p> +<p>“Oh! oh! oh!” and her eyes were full of +tears though her lips smiled.</p> +<p>“Now we will go down,” said godmother.</p> +<p>That was by another way. But this place +was a perfect land of delight. She had never +read of anything like it, but the Arabian +Nights had not come in her way. Some were +dancing about informally, some talking and +laughing. There were the most elegantly +attired boys in silks and velvets made in all +pretty fashions. Silk stockings and light +colored pumps, jackets trimmed with frills +of lace, some with satin trousers wide enough +for petticoats at the bottom and blue velvet +sailor collars. There was no end of fancy attire.</p> +<p>“This is to be your knight, Sir Aldred. And +this is the new Cinderella. Take good care +of her until the Prince comes.”</p> +<p>He bowed with most enchanting grace. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_11' name='page_11'></a>11</span></p> +<p>“There are so many of them!” he said, as +he took her hand, “But she is the prettiest +of them all.”</p> +<p>The knight gave her hand a little squeeze +and she turned rosy red.</p> +<p>“Come this way,” and he led her along. It +was odd to be introduced as Cinderella, but +everybody was so sweet and cordial that she +kept smiling and bowing.</p> +<p>Presently a cluster of bells sounded and +everybody fell into line along the outer edge +of the beautiful building. It was a grand +march and the tapping of the feet seemed +like an encore to the music. Then the first +couple stepped out on the floor. Everybody +dances in fairy land that is presided over by +godmothers. Oh, it was just enchanting!</p> +<p>“Are you tired?” Sir Aldred asked presently.</p> +<p>“Oh, no, I never imagined anything so +utterly delightful. And the splendid dressing. +Are there many Cinderellas here?” a little +timidly.</p> +<p>“Oh, yes. They love to come, but the new +one always dances with the Prince. He will +come in presently for you.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_12' name='page_12'></a>12</span></p> +<p>“Oh, I shall feel afraid.” She really felt +tears rushing to her eyes.</p> +<p>“No, you will not, for he is truly most delightful, +a regular Prince Charming. You see, +it is different in fairy land. You forget for +awhile who you have been. That’s the charm +of it. And you’re such a lovely dancer.”</p> +<p>“And—and—is there any glass slipper?”</p> +<p>She seemed to remember something about +that.</p> +<p>“That’s in the story. The Prince isn’t +looking for a wife now. And you couldn’t +dance in a stiff glass slipper. It might shiver to +pieces. What pretty little feet you have! And +such a lovely curly head.”</p> +<p>It seemed quite delightful to be praised +and she was glad she pleased him.</p> +<p>Then there was a curious quivering about +the place as if every one was drawing a long +breath, and the lights were mysterious, while +all the little bells twinkled. And there stood +the Prince.</p> +<p>He was taller than any of the others and +very handsome. As for his attire, I couldn’t +begin to describe it, it was so resplendent +with silk and velvet and jewels. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_13' name='page_13'></a>13</span></p> +<p>Sir Aldred led the little lady up to him and +said: “This is Cinderella.”</p> +<p>The Prince bowed and pressed a kiss upon +her hand and she was glad it was lily white +and not rough and red.</p> +<p>“I am very glad you are here Cinderella, +I hope you will have a happy time. You +look so.”</p> +<p>“Oh I know I shall.” She blushed and cast +her eyes down in such a sweet fashion that +he really longed to kiss the lids.</p> +<p>Then the music commenced and they +stepped out as if they had danced together +all their lives. The others formed a circle and +went round them, bowing as they passed. +There were such fascinating figures, changing +frequently, each one prettier than the last. +She wondered how they could remember; how +<i>she</i> could do it. They all looked so lovely. +It certainly was fairy land.</p> +<p>Now and then the Prince bent over and +said something charming to her as if she had +been a fine lady and the odd thing was that +she could answer him readily. The music +began to go slower and died in softest melody. +Then he turned and said— +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_14' name='page_14'></a>14</span></p> +<p>“Now we will go out and have some refreshments. +You must be tired after all +this dancing, but you don’t look it at all.”</p> +<p>“Oh, I feel as if I could dance all night. I +believe I am bewitched.”</p> +<p>He gave her the sweetest smile that any +Cinderella ever had.</p> +<p>“I am very glad. Sometimes they think +of the ashes and cinders and wonder whether +the pleasure will last. Then the lightness +goes out of their feet and the smiles from their +rosy lips. The thing is to enjoy it while you +are here. You are a very delightful Cinderella; +I must ask godmother to keep a watch over +you. I hope to meet you again.”</p> +<p>The banquet room was beautiful as well; +there was a great oval table with a chandelier +shedding a thousand lights from the gorgeous +prisms. Underneath was a tiny lake full of +blooming water lilies. There were mounds of +fruit and flowers, nuts from all over the world, +piles of cake, candied fruit, ices made in all +kinds of shape. The most beautiful plates +and dishes, glass and crystal and servants +piling up dainties and pouring out fragrant +drinks. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_15' name='page_15'></a>15</span></p> +<p>At the head sat the Prince and Cinderella. +He rose and drank to her health and good +fortune with the most exquisite verse and +Sir Aldred returned with a charming reply. +Certainly there were no envious or jealous +sisters. Every one was so merry and talked +with his or her neighbor, and every girl had +a knight who was devoted to her. Were they +all Cinderellas, and had the Prince been as +delightful to them? Every face beamed with +wondrous satisfaction.</p> +<p>“But I don’t understand it at all,” and she +glanced up wonderingly.</p> +<p>“Oh, you don’t have to in fairy land. You +just take all the pleasure that comes. You are +not thinking of all the tomorrows. There will +be something nice and pleasant if you look +for it in the right place. For little Cinderella, +we must not be looking for tomorrow’s joy. +You cannot find them tonight. There are +flowers that fold their leaves but will open +again tomorrow. You would be short sighted +to sit down and cry tonight about it.”</p> +<p>Marilla was a good deal puzzled.</p> +<p>“You must be a happy little Cinderella +when you have been to fairy land. You must +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_16' name='page_16'></a>16</span> +not lose faith in fairy godmothers. They come +at unexpected times and in different guise. +And that is what keeps the world bright +and the heart young, and sometime the real +Prince comes.”</p> +<p>Her heart beat with a mysterious joy. She +was full of gladness.</p> +<p>Then they walked around and all the other +Cinderellas seemed so happy when he smiled +and spoke to them. The beautiful music went +on. Here and there groups were dancing again.</p> +<p>And then it seemed as if a giant caught her +and almost shook her to pieces, and the beautiful +lights wavered and vanished. She was +brought upon her feet with a force that would +have shivered any glass slipper.</p> +<p>“You little huzzy! What are you doing up +this time of night, instead of asleep in +bed? Rouse up! rouse up! Lucky you didn’t +let my fire go out this cold night! Come, +hustle!”</p> +<p>There seemed a sort of crash. Marilla +glanced around with half-opened eyes. Yes, +this was the old kitchen. There was Bridget +with the lighted end of a candle in the tin +candlestick. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_17' name='page_17'></a>17</span></p> +<p>“Come! get along, sleepy head.” She gave +her a push up the stairs and through the halls, +half scolding her but not cross. “It’s a wonder +the gobble sirs didn’t come after you. If +you’d been carried off now! It’s awful cold. +I’d sleep in my stockings and they’ll be good +and warm in the morning.”</p> +<p>Marilla hustled off her clothes, wrapped +herself in an old blanket and tumbled into +bed in a little heap. But there was some +mysterious music floating through her brain +and a fragrance in the air. The Prince smiled +down into her eyes, and the fairy godmother +she should always believe in. For she had +been to real fairy land; that was the truth.</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='CHAPTER_II_JACK' id='CHAPTER_II_JACK'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER II</h2> +<h3>JACK</h3> +</div> +<p>The Bordens were nice, ordinary people +enjoying life in a commonplace way. There was +Mr. Jack Borden, the junior partner in a +fairly successful law firm, his wife an averagely +nice, sensible body, Miss Florence, her +husband’s sister, a bright girl of three and +twenty, whose lover was in South America +on a five years’ contract, with one year yet +to serve.</p> +<p>After the twins were born they tried a +grown nursemaid who bored them by sitting +around when she was upstairs and +making many excuses to get down to the +kitchen, where she disputed with Bridget who +declared one or the other of them must go, +and they simply could not give up Bridget. +The babies slept a good deal of the time and +only cried when they were hungry. The mother +and aunt thought them the dearest things and +their father was as proud of them as a man +could well be. If it wasn’t for giving them +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_19' name='page_19'></a>19</span> +an airing now and then—but when it came +pleasant weather they <i>must</i> be taken out.</p> +<p>Aunt Hetty Vanderveer who was queer +and going on to eighty, who couldn’t live +with a relative for they always wanted to +borrow her money, got tangled up in a house +on which she had a mortgage, and called her +grandnephew, Mr. John Borden to her rescue. +She took the house and persuaded them to +come there, and she would live with them +on certain conditions. She was to have the +third floor front room and the store room, get +her breakfast and tea and take dinner with +them though it was their luncheon. Night +dinners she despised. She entertained herself +sewing patchwork, a dressmaker sent +her bags of silk pieces; knitting baby socks +and stockings and reading novels. They did +get along very well though it made a good +deal of running up and down.</p> +<p>The spare room and Bridget’s room was +on this floor. On the second, two sleeping +chambers, the nursery and the bath. Down +stairs a long parlor and a dining room, with +a basement kitchen which Bridget declared +she liked above all things. A woman came to +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_20' name='page_20'></a>20</span> +do the washing and ironing, Bridget’s nephew +took out the ashes and swept the stoop and +sidewalk. Bridget was a strong, healthy, +good natured Irish woman when you didn’t +meddle with her, and the ladies were very +glad not to meddle. But some one for the +babies they must have.</p> +<p>One day a friend came in for a subscription +to some of her charities and heard the appeal.</p> +<p>“Now, I’ll tell you just what to do,” she +said “Go over to the Bethany Home, you take +the car out to the Melincourt Road that +passes it. Ask for Mrs. Johnson. They have +two girls; they put them out when they are +twelve. And since you only want some one +to amuse the babies and take them out, and +she will be growing older all the time, you see, +you can bring her up in your ways. Yes, +that is what I’d do.”</p> +<p>Mrs. Borden followed the advice. There +was a stout, rather vacant looking German +girl, a good worker who delighted in scrubbing +and scouring and who would make an excellent +kitchen maid. The other was Marilla +Bond, an orphan with no relatives that any +one knew; a fair, nice looking intelligent +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_21' name='page_21'></a>21</span> +child, with light curly hair cropped close, +rather slim, and with a certain ready, alert +look that was attractive.</p> +<p>Mrs. Borden brought her home for a +month’s trial. She took to the babies at +once, and Jack took to her. Oddly enough, so +did Bridget. She had such a quaint sweet +way of saying, “Yes’m” and “No’m;” she +did what she was told to do with alacrity, she +ran up and down stairs on numberless errands. +She was a very good reader and at first, Jack +kept her busy in this respect. But she wanted +to hear about lions and tigers and men killing +them and Indian fights and matters that +didn’t please the little girl at all. Mother +Goose was babyish.</p> +<p>The twins sat on a blanket on the floor +and sometimes rolled around a little. She +played with them, talked to them and they +really listened to the stories that she acted +off and laughed gleefully.</p> +<p>“They certainly <i>are</i> intelligent,” Aunt +Florence said with pride.</p> +<p>On nice sunny days when it was not very +cold she took them out in the carriage. They +were carried down and put in it, then brought +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_22' name='page_22'></a>22</span> +up again. Their mother “wasn’t going to +have any nurse breaking their backs by a +fall.”</p> +<p>So when the month of probation was ended, +Marilla was bound to Mr. and Mrs. John +Borden, to be clothed and fed and sent to +school for half a year. She really did like her +new home. Only if it wasn’t for Jack! He +pinched her sometimes, and once he kicked +her but his mother gave him a good trouncing.</p> +<p>The twins had some bread and milk and +were put to bed at six. Then Cinderella went +down stairs but not to sit in the ashes. She +did numerous things for Bridget and they had +a cozy dinner together, always a dessert, and +they were so good.</p> +<p>“If Jack only wouldn’t run away,” she +said. “You see I can’t leave the babies, and +I am so afraid he will get lost.”</p> +<p>“Let him get lost then; that’ll bring his +mother to her senses, and you tell her.”</p> +<p>He did come near it one day. She took the +babies home and explained and then said +she would go and find him.</p> +<p>Aunt Florence went with her. They had +quite a long search and finally asked the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_23' name='page_23'></a>23</span> +policeman, who said: “there was a little boy +down here on a stoop, crying.”</p> +<p>Jack, sure enough, and he was very glad to +be found. His mother kept him in the house +for two days and then he promised to be very +good.</p> +<p>“Now, if you make any trouble you shall +not go out for a whole week.”</p> +<p>The babies hadn’t gone much farther than +“<i>agoo, agoo</i>,” but Marilla tried her best to +make them talk. They each had a rubber doll +and the child would dance them up and down +and make them turn somersaults and stand +on their heads, and invent every sort of grotesque +action.</p> +<p>Jack was a good looking little fellow and +had been spoiled in the earlier years. He was +a little afraid of his father, and sometimes his +mother <i>would</i> make him mind, but he was +very full of badness.</p> +<p>Aunt Florence wanted some silk and twist +and spools of cotton one morning.</p> +<p>“You could find your way down to Grand +street where the stores are, couldn’t you +Marilla—where we went that Saturday night?”</p> +<p>“Oh, yes. Down there opposite the park.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_24' name='page_24'></a>24</span></p> +<p>“Yes. It’s a big store. Day and Belden. +I’ll write it out for you and you may take +my Leggy bag. Be sure and put the change in +it before you leave the store.”</p> +<p>“Yes’m,” with her sweet accent.</p> +<p>“She may take Jack, and the babies will +have a good long nap. Now Jack, you must be +very good and mind Marilla, or you shan’t +go out again for a week.”</p> +<p>Jack said he would. He looked very pretty +in his brown coat with its fur collar, and his +brown mittens.</p> +<p>“Give me a penny a’cause I’m gonter be +good.”</p> +<p>“I’ll wait and see whether you are going +to good or not.”</p> +<p>Jack stood it pretty well until they reached +the little park which was a rather long triangle +with a few trees in it. Here he made a sudden +dash and was off like a squirrel.</p> +<p>Marilla was after him. “Go it sonny,” +cried a man laughing, but she gained on him +and took him by the arm with a jerk that +nearly capsized them both.</p> +<p>He could not pull away. She marched him +across the street and found the store, and asked +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_25' name='page_25'></a>25</span> +for the notion department. There were the +spools of all kinds.</p> +<p>“Will you please open the bag and find an +order in it,” she said in a very nice manner.</p> +<p>The girl smiled. “Three spools of silk, two +twist, black cotton number 60, white cotton, +60, 70 and 80.”</p> +<p>She put up the order and sent the money +whizzing to the cash clerk, handing the bag to +Marilla.</p> +<p>“What’s that thing like a railroad for?” +asked Jack, keeping his eyes upon it.</p> +<p>“That carries the money.”</p> +<p>“Gee! I wish I had one at home!”</p> +<p>The change came back. Marilla opened +the bag to put it in and used both hands. +Jack was off like a flash, turning here and +there through the aisles. Clear down to the +end of the store was a toy department. +Marilla was almost up to him when he grabbed +a handful of toys and ran on.</p> +<p>“Oh, do please stop him!” she cried to the +clerk.</p> +<p>Two or three joined the chase. Finding they +were gaining on him he threw down the +articles and stamped furiously upon them. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_26' name='page_26'></a>26</span></p> +<p>“What is all this row?” asked the floor +walker.</p> +<p>“The little boy snatched the toys and ran,” +said the young clerk.</p> +<p>“Oh, Jack, how could you!” cried Marilla.</p> +<p>Jack laughed insolently.</p> +<p>“Is he your brother?” in a sharp tone.</p> +<p>“I’m only the nurse girl, please, sir,” and +Marilla began to cry.</p> +<p>The floor walker shook Jack until he was +purple in the face.</p> +<p>“You little thief! You ought to go to the +Station House. I’ve half a mind to send you!”</p> +<p>“Oh, please don’t,” pleaded Marilla. She +stooped to pick up some of the broken pieces. +“I think his mother will pay for them.”</p> +<p>“Who’s his mother?”</p> +<p>“Mrs. John Borden, 138 Arch Street.”</p> +<p>“What brought you in the store.”</p> +<p>“I was sent to buy some things. They are +in this bag, and—the change.”</p> +<p>A gentleman came up to inquire into the +matter.</p> +<p>“These children ought to be taught a +lesson. That Granford boy carried off an +expensive toy the other night and I sent a +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_27' name='page_27'></a>27</span> +note to his mother that brought her to terms +at once. See what is the value of these things.”</p> +<p>The counter girl began to place the pieces +together and examine the marks.</p> +<p>“It is—sixty-seven cents.”</p> +<p>“That’s too much. We’ll send a note to his +mother, and young sir, if you dare to come +in this store again, we’ll send you to jail, I +think.”</p> +<p>Quite a crowd had collected. One lady +looked at him sharply.</p> +<p>“Why, it’s little Jack Borden,” she said. +“What’s the matter?”</p> +<p>Marilla told the story over.</p> +<p>“I don’t care,” Jack flung out. “I just +stamped on the old things.”</p> +<p>“Take that to Mrs. Borden,” and the man +handed Marilla a folded note. “Now, I’ll see +you out, young sir.”</p> +<p>Marilla trembled from head to foot. She +was very much ashamed though none of it +had been her fault. But what would Mrs. +Borden say? What if Mrs. Borden should +send her back to the Bethany Home! Oh, she +did not want to go. But she could not manage +Jack. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_28' name='page_28'></a>28</span></p> +<p>The young man stopped short when they +reached the house, “I ain’t comin’ in just +now,” he said decidedly.</p> +<p>When Marilla was in the house she always +answered the door bell. Bridget protested she +could not run up and down so much and she +didn’t always hear it. Miss Florence came +now.</p> +<p>“Oh, Marilla, what’s the matter?”</p> +<p>“Jack has run off down the street. And, oh, +Miss Florence”—ending in a fit of crying.</p> +<p>“What <i>is</i> the matter? Did you lose the +money?”</p> +<p>“Oh, no, here is everything and the change. +But Jack––”</p> +<p>“Come upstairs and tell us.” Miss Florence +opened the bag, counted the change, took out +the parcels and a note.</p> +<p>“Why, what is this?”</p> +<p>“The man told me to bring it home. I held +Jack’s hand tight all the way down to the store +and gave the girl the bag because I couldn’t +open it with one hand. She took out the money +and put in the parcel and gave it to me and +said, ‘Wait for the change.’ When it came +she handed it to me and turned away, and when +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_29' name='page_29'></a>29</span> +I was putting it in the bag Jack ran off. You +know how the paths go in and out. I looked +and looked and saw him over at the toy counter, +but before I could reach him he snatched +a lot of things and ran, and the girl went after +him, too, and then he threw them down and +stamped on them and ever so many people +came and the man was very angry––”</p> +<p>Marilla cried as if her little heart had been +broken. Miss Florence handed the note to her +sister who had been listening in amaze.</p> +<p>“Marilla,” began Florence, “you have done +the errand very well. Don’t cry, child. We +shouldn’t have let Jack go with you.”</p> +<p>Mrs. Borden’s face turned very red. “A +great fuss about sixty-seven cents. Accidents +will happen.”</p> +<p>“But throwing them down and stamping +on them was no accident, Amy. That child +is dreadful. He doesn’t mind Marilla when +he is out of our sight, hardly when he is in it. +And I don’t know what the babies would do +without her.”</p> +<p>They began to cry now. They always cried +together and lustily.</p> +<p>“Where’s Jack?” asked his mother. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_30' name='page_30'></a>30</span></p> +<p>“He ran down the street.”</p> +<p>“Don’t worry about Jack, Marilla; you go +down and get the babies’ bread and milk +ready.”</p> +<p>Marilla went and of course told the mishap +to Bridget.</p> +<p>“That young’un ’ll get in prison some day; +you see! He’s a rascal through and through, a +mean dirty spalpeen, a holy terror! And if +they set to blaming you, I’ll threaten to leave; +that I will.”</p> +<p>“You don’t think they’ll send me back to +Bethany Home?” in a distressed tone.</p> +<p>“They’d be big fools to! I don’t know where +they’d get another like you. If that Jack was +mine, I’d skin him alive and hang him out +bare naked, the mean little thief! And the +missus knows he’s bad through and through.”</p> +<p>Marilla took the basin of dinner upstairs. +The babies had hushed their crying and gave +a sort of joyous howl at the sight. Florence +had talked her sister-in-law into a more +reasonable view of the case. Then the babies +were fed and comforted and sat on the blanket +with playthings about them. They could +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_31' name='page_31'></a>31</span> +climb up a little by chairs, but they were +too heavy for much activity.</p> +<p>Mrs. Borden picked up her slipper and went +down stairs, opening the front door. Jack was +slowly sauntering back and she beckoned to +him. He had begun to think it was feeding +time as well as the babies.</p> +<p>“I was gone, to put ’em back—” he began—</p> +<p>She took off his pretty coat and then she +did spank him for good. Meanwhile the bell +rang for lunch. She put him on a chair in the +end of the parlor and said—</p> +<p>“Now you sit there. If you dare to get up +you’ll get some more. And all the lunch you +can have will be a piece of bread without any +butter.” And she left the door open so she +could see if he ventured down.</p> +<p>But after the bread he went up stairs and +straight to Marilla.</p> +<p>“You old tell tale! You’ll be rid on a rail +and dumped in the river,” and he kicked at +her.</p> +<p>“The man sent a note––”</p> +<p>“Jack,” interposed his mother sternly.</p> +<p>Then the babies were bundled up and +carried down stairs, well wrapped up for their +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_32' name='page_32'></a>32</span> +ride. Manila enjoyed the outing when she +didn’t have Jack. She went down again by +the stores. There were two she delighted in, +book and stationery stores. One window was +full of magazines and papers, and she read +bits here and there. She was so fond of +reading and she would piece out the page she +read with her own imaginings. She always +staid out two hours, more when it was pleasant, +and brought back the babies, rosy and bright +eyed.</p> +<p>“Jack,” and his father took him on his +knee that evening, “you have been a very +bad boy today. You have been a thief. Suppose +the man had sent you to the Station +House?”</p> +<p>“I wouldn’t a’ gone.”</p> +<p>“Well, you would have had to. Thieves +break laws and are sent to prison. And there +you broke up the toys. You must never go in +a store again without your mother.”</p> +<p>“M’rilla took me in.”</p> +<p>“And mother and Auntie supposed they +could trust you. Now they can’t. You will +have to be watched and punished, and I am +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_33' name='page_33'></a>33</span> +going to do it. There’ll be no more Sunday +walks with me, either.”</p> +<p>“Can’t I go alone?”</p> +<p>“Not until you are a good boy.”</p> +<p>Jack looked rather sober, but his father +saw he was not making much impression. And +presently his mother put him to bed.</p> +<p>“I really don’t know what to do with Jack,” +his mother said on her return, taking up her +sewing.</p> +<p>“Listen to this,” and Mr. Borden read from +the paper an account of three boys who had +managed to enter a grocery store and steal +some quite valuable stock. Ages, seven, nine +and ten.</p> +<p>“I’d rather bury Jack tomorrow than have +such a thing published about him,” he said.</p> +<p>“And Jack used to be so nice,” returned +his mother with a sigh.</p> +<p>“We’ve indulged him too much, and we +have idealized childhood too much; we’ve +laughed at his smart tricks and his saucy replies, +and tried high moral suasion, but +we must turn over a new leaf. When he is +bad he must be punished severely enough +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_34' name='page_34'></a>34</span> +to make an impression. Are you sure of that +girl, Marilla?”</p> +<p>“Yes. She’s truthful and so sweet to the +babies. Bridget says she wouldn’t even touch +a piece of cake without asking for it. But I +think she does sometimes shield Jack. He +has a nasty way of pinching and I do slap him +for it. I’m afraid of his pinching the babies. +But we never do leave him alone with them.”</p> +<p>“See here,” began Florence, “why not send +him to Kindergarten. The new term is just +beginning. I think boys ought to be with +other boys. And those classes are made so +entertaining. The many employments take +a child’s mind off of mischief, and they are +trained in manners. Oh dear! think, what a +blessed time we should have!”</p> +<p>“I don’t know but it is a good idea,” said +Jack’s father. “He will have to mix with +children some time, and our training hasn’t +proved such a brilliant success. Oh, I do want +him to grow up a nice boy. But boys seem +an awful risk now-a-days. I never knew so +many youthful criminals.”</p> +<p>“I’d like to know who that woman was who +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_35' name='page_35'></a>35</span> +recognized Jack in the store. That mortifies +me awfully.”</p> +<p>“And it will get told all over, I know,” +returned Aunt Florence.</p> +<p>“Well, children do out grow a good many of +these disagreeable capers.”</p> +<p>The next night Mr. Borden brought home +something in a paper bag and Jack begged +the bag “to bust,” watching his father as +he shook out a leather strap cut in thongs +and said—</p> +<p>“Now, Jack, every time you do any naughty, +ugly thing, I am going to punish you with this +strap. You must not pinch Marilla or the +babies, not kick any one nor tell what isn’t +true. We want you to be a pretty good boy, +otherwise you will have to be sent to the +reform school.”</p> +<p>“I’d like to go to the ’form school.”</p> +<p>“Not much,” was the comment.</p> +<p>“Why, I’d run away.”</p> +<p>“There’s a high fence all around, and you +couldn’t climb it.”</p> +<p>“Then I’d holler like fury.”</p> +<p>“And be put in a dark dungeon.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_36' name='page_36'></a>36</span></p> +<p>“There was a man in a story who dug his +way out. That’s what I’d do.”</p> +<p>Arguing was useless. He was such a little +fellow, but fertile in expedients.</p> +<p>“I don’t want ever to use this strap on my +little boy. I hope he will be good.”</p> +<p>“What is good and what is bad.”</p> +<p>“Come to bed, Jack. You’re getting silly.”</p> +<p>On Monday morning Jack went to Kindergarten. +The house was like another place. +And Jack was very much entertained. He +soon learned what a “punch below the belt” +meant, and a “biff in the eye” and several +other fighting terms.</p> +<p>“And they’re a set of gumps,” he declared. +“They can’t read right off, they’ve got to +write it, and I can read most anything and spell +words, too. But they make pictures and +lovely things, and sing. Yes, I like to go.”</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='CHAPTER_III_PLAYING_HOOKEY' id='CHAPTER_III_PLAYING_HOOKEY'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER III</h2> +<h3>PLAYING HOOKEY</h3> +</div> +<p>Marilla thought she had lovely times with +Jack in school, but she did have to run up and +down so much that some nights her little +legs fairly ached. But now she took the babies +out to the big park where she could sit and +watch the merry children at play and the +beds of flowers coming out, and there were +the funny pussy willows and the long tails +of yellow forsythia and some squirrels running +around, and birds calling to each other. +Then there were pretty children playing about +and some nurse girls that she talked to. She +felt so rested sitting here, and sometimes her +thoughts went back to the March night when +she had fallen asleep by the warm stove and +had that wonderful, beautiful dream. She +felt very happy over it. And the Cinderella +meant all the little hard worked girls who +had few pleasures. Oh, she wished they could +all have one night in that magic fairy land.</p> +<p>She was learning to sew a little as well, and +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_38' name='page_38'></a>38</span> +she thought she should like it if there was a +little more time. But the babies began to +crawl around now and Violet would pick up +anything and put it in her mouth; so you had +to watch her every moment. And though +they generally slept from ten to twelve, +there was the door to answer, little things to +be done for Aunt Hetty whose bell would +ring just as she had her work fixed ready to +sew. Then likely she would lose her needle.</p> +<p>But she managed somehow to keep very +sweet-tempered. She wished she could go to +school.</p> +<p>“We’ll see next fall,” Mrs. Borden said. +“The twins will be larger and less trouble.”</p> +<p>Sundays were pretty good; Mr. Borden took +out the children in the afternoon. She had to +help Bridget with the vegetables for dinner, +which was at midday and there was so much +washing-up afterwards, at least drying the +dishes, that there was barely time to go to +Sunday school. But the singing was so +delightful. She sang the pretty hymns over +to the babies. In the evening the family +generally went out or had company. So after +Jack and the babies were abed she used to +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_39' name='page_39'></a>39</span> +read, unless Jack wouldn’t go to sleep and +torment her with questions that were unanswerable.</p> +<p>On the whole Jack had been pretty good +for a fortnight. One afternoon Mrs. Borden +had gone out, Miss Florence had some visitors +in the parlor. Marilla had fed the babies +who were laughing and crowing when Aunt +Hetty’s bell rang. She ran up.</p> +<p>“M’rilla get me some hot water, quick, and +that aromatic ammonia, I’m so faint and feel +queer all over. Be quick now.”</p> +<p>She ran down, but could not run up lest +she might spill the water. Aunt Hetty was +gasping for breath, and leaning back in the +big chair. She swallowed a little, then she went +over on Marilla’s shoulder and the child was +frightened at her ghastly look. There was +the lavender salts––</p> +<p>Just then there was a succession of screams +from the babies. Could she leave Aunt Hetty? +Miss Florence called her, then ran up stairs +herself.</p> +<p>And this was what had happened; Jack +had come home and finding no one, knew there +was some candy on the closet shelf. And there +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_40' name='page_40'></a>40</span> +hung the strap. He wondered if it would +hurt very much? The babies looked too +tempting. So he began to strap them and +enjoyed the howling. He was just going to +leave off when Aunt Florence flew into the +room.</p> +<p>“Oh, Jack, you cruel, wicked boy!” Then she +seized the strap and he soon had an opportunity +to known how much it hurt.</p> +<p>“Marilla! Marilla!” she called.</p> +<p>“Oh, Miss Florence, something dreadful has +happened to Aunt Hetty, and I’m fast with +her.”</p> +<p>She came up. “Oh, she looks as if she was +dying or dead. Let’s put her on the lounge +and you go for Bridget.”</p> +<p>“What is the matter with the children.”</p> +<p>“Oh, go, quick! I’ll tell you afterward.”</p> +<p>The child summoned Bridget and just +ran in to comfort and kiss the babies.</p> +<p>“Oh, Jack, you never—oh, look at their +poor little hands! You bad, wicked boy!”</p> +<p>“If you say much, I’ll give you some––”</p> +<p>Marilla snatched at the strap and flung it +upon a high shelf. Jack wiped his eyes and +went out to play. Marilla ran upstairs again. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_41' name='page_41'></a>41</span> +They were fanning Aunt Hetty and bathing +her face and head.</p> +<p>“Marilla, will you go to the parlor and ask +that lady to come up here,—Mrs. Henderson. +Bridget thinks—oh, and we ought to have a +doctor! I must telephone.”</p> +<p>“And then can I stay with the babies?”</p> +<p>“Yes, yes.”</p> +<p>“Poor babies!” Marilla fairly stopped them +with witch hazel. Their little fat hands and +their shoulders were swollen already. She +kissed them, but she couldn’t take them both +and they wanted to be cuddled. So she sat +down and hugged them and really cried herself.</p> +<p>Bridget came down, “She isn’t dead but +she’s a mighty hard faint on her. And what +happened to the children?”</p> +<p>Marilla explained in a broken voice.</p> +<p>“Oh, the murtherin’ little devil! You take +one and I’ll comfort ’tother. But you can’t +lift her.”</p> +<p>No; Marilla couldn’t lift such a dead weight. +Bridget walked the floor and patted Pansy +and crooned over her, but the hurt was pretty +deep. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_42' name='page_42'></a>42</span></p> +<p>Aunt Florence came down.</p> +<p>“She’s over the faint. Mrs. Henderson is +going to stay a while. Oh, poor babies!”</p> +<p>“I must look after my meat or it’ll burn,” +and she gave the baby to Miss Florence.</p> +<p>“I’ll sit in the rocking chair and you put her +in my lap, I think she’s hurt more than Violet. +You see, I ran upstairs when Miss Hetty’s +bell rang, and she fell on my shoulder, and +I never thought––”</p> +<p>“I gave it to him good, and his father’ll finish +him tonight. Oh, dear! Well, there comes +their mother.”</p> +<p>There was a hubhub with both babies +crying again. Mrs. Borden laid aside her hat +and coat and took up Violet, sent Marilla +for a pitcher of milk and both babies were +comforted with a drink.</p> +<p>“Sit on the floor and hold them. They’re +so heavy. Poor sweet babies.”</p> +<p>The sobs ceased after a while. Violet fell +asleep, Pansy was bathed again and grew +quieter. The doctor came and said it was a +bad fainting spell but that Mrs. Vanderveers +heart was weak from age.</p> +<p>Marilla fixed Pansy’s supper, fed her and +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_43' name='page_43'></a>43</span> +undressed her, and her mother laid her in the +crib. Then she said—</p> +<p>“You may go and help Bridget a little with +the dinner.”</p> +<p>Marilla arranged the table and the master +of the house came in. Jack sneaked in, also. +Mrs. Henderson staid, so no explanations were +made. Jack was very quiet and behaved +beautifully, but he wanted to go to bed at +once. Violet woke and had her supper and +quiet was restored. Then a man came in +to consult Mr. Borden about some business.</p> +<p>“It was awful that Jack should go at the +babies so,” said Mrs. Borden to her sister.</p> +<p>“I don’t know about telling his father. +You gave him one whipping––”</p> +<p>“And a good hard one. I’m afraid of boys +getting so used to that mode of punishment +that they don’t mind it. But father brought +up four boys in that manner and they have +all made nice men. I don’t see where Jack +gets his badness from.”</p> +<p>Jack’s mother sighed. “And yet he can be +so lovely.”</p> +<p>“I’ve been considering,” rejoined Florence. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_44' name='page_44'></a>44</span> +“Suppose we hold this over his head for a while. +I might talk to him.”</p> +<p>“Well, we can try it.”</p> +<p>So Aunt Florence talked to him very seriously, +and said if he wasn’t a better boy they +would have to send him off somewhere in the +country where there were no children. She +would not tell his father just now, but if he +ever struck or pinched the babies again she +certainly would, and he would be punished +twice over. He must remember that.</p> +<p>He put his arms around her neck, and kissed +her. “I’m awful sorry. I didn’t think it hurt +so,” he said naively.</p> +<p>“Papa will hurt you a great deal more than +I did,” was her reply.</p> +<p>And then Jack had a sudden accession of +goodness. His teacher was proud of him. How +much was due to his pretty face and winsome +manner, one couldn’t quite tell, but the +nursery had a lovely rest and Marilla didn’t +have to watch out every moment.</p> +<p>Mrs. Borden secretly wished the twins were +prettier. They were too fat, and when she +tried to diet them a little they made a terrible +protest. Here they were fourteen +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_45' name='page_45'></a>45</span> +months old and couldn’t walk yet, but they +were beginning to say little words under their +nurse’s steady training.</p> +<p>Aunt Hetty made light of her attack and +was soon about as usual, but she did not take +long walks and laid on the lounge a good deal. +“Folks can’t stay young forever,” she said, +“and I’m getting to be quite an old lady.”</p> +<p>Then they began to plan for a summering.</p> +<p>Last year they had not gone anywhere. +Advertisements were answered, and Florence +visited several places. They would take +Marilla of course, she was coming to have a +thin, worn look. Aunt Hetty would visit a +grand niece, who had been begging her to +come. Bridget would stay in the house, she +had no fancy for cantering about. Mrs. +Borden would live at home through the week +and rejoin them on Saturday afternoons. +They must get off soon after school closed. +There was no end of sewing. Some pretty +skirts were altered over for Marilla, as there +was enough for full dresses in them.</p> +<p>The place was on Long Island, a country +house with only two other boarders. It was +barely a quarter of a mile from the seashore, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_46' name='page_46'></a>46</span> +with a great orchard and grass all about, +shady places for hammocks and numerous +conveniences, besides moderate board.</p> +<p>Jack had not been an angel all the time. +Some days he wouldn’t study. Then he +had two fights with boys. He threw stones +at cats—sometimes dogs, and broke two or +three windows which he didn’t set out to do. +He was getting tired of school and the weather +was warm.</p> +<p>So one afternoon he thought he would +take a walk instead. He would go out to the +park where they went on Sundays. It was so +warm in school. He was getting quite tired +of the confinement.</p> +<p>He found a group of children and played +with them awhile. Then they ran off home +and he rambled on and on until he came to a +street up a few steps. A wagon was standing +there and two little boys were hanging on +behind.</p> +<p>“Come on, its real fun,” sang out one of +them. “You get a good ride.”</p> +<p>Jack thought it would be. They showed him +how to hold on. The driver had been busy +with an account book and now he touched up +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_47' name='page_47'></a>47</span> +the horses. “Hanging on” wasn’t so easy +Jack found, and you had to swing your legs +underneath. The man paused again at a +saloon and he dropped off; his hands were +very tired. The man went in the place and +when he came out one of the boys said—</p> +<p>“Hi! Mister, won’t you give us a ride?”</p> +<p>The man laughed. “Where you want to +go? I’m for Roselands.”</p> +<p>“We want to go there,” was the reply.</p> +<p>“Well, crawl up here. Two of you’ll have to +sit on the wagon bottom.”</p> +<p>“I’m going to sit with the driver, ’cause +I asked.”</p> +<p>It wasn’t a very clean floor to sit on, Jack +thought, and the wagon bumped a good deal, +the beer kegs rattled against each other. But +the boys laughed and called it fun. There was +another stop and then the driver asked who +they were going to see in Roselands.</p> +<p>“Oh, no one. We’re going just for fun.”</p> +<p>“Where’d you live?”</p> +<p>The boys all lived at Newton.</p> +<p>“Jiminy; then you better get out and trot +back. I’m going over the mountain where +I put up for the night. Mebbe you can get +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_48' name='page_48'></a>48</span> +a ride back. It’s two miles down to the place +where I took you in.”</p> +<p>“Yes, we better get out,” replied the biggest +boy. “Oh, we can soon foot it back. Much +obliged for the ride, Mister.”</p> +<p>The man nodded.</p> +<p>They sat off quite cheerily. Automobiles +passed them and carriages containing ladies, +one or two loaded trucks. Jack began to get +very tired and lagged. “Come, hurry up,” +the biggest boy said. Jack ran a little distance +for a change. He began to wish he was back +in school. Presently a farm wagon came jogging +along.</p> +<p>“Give us a ride?” The biggest boy’s name +was Dick and he seemed the spokesman.</p> +<p>“Yes—where ye want to go?”</p> +<p>“To Newton.”</p> +<p>“I turn off at the crossroads, ye kin ride +that fur.”</p> +<p>That was a great relief. They were quite +jolly again, though Jack didn’t understand the +fun. But when they dismounted, Dick asked +him where he lived.</p> +<p>“In Arch Street.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_49' name='page_49'></a>49</span></p> +<p>“Well, that’s clear over there,” indicating it +with his head. “Ta ta, little sonny.”</p> +<p>They both laughed and Jack felt rather +affronted. Over there seemed a long way. +Then it was clouding up and night was coming +on. He went straight along, but now he was +hungry, and his little legs ached. He had been +instructed if he was ever lost to ask the way +to Arch Street. So he asked now.</p> +<p>“Oh, sonny, you’re a long way from Arch +Street. Keep straight on until you come to +Taylor, then ask again.”</p> +<p>Here was a bakery with a pleasant, motherly +woman. He went in.</p> +<p>“Please ma’am, would you give me a bun? +I’m lost and I can’t find my way back to Arch +Street.”</p> +<p>“You poor child! Yes, and here’s a cake, +beside. Arch Street isn’t far from the eastern +end of the park. Sit and get rested. Who’s +your father?”</p> +<p>“Mr. John Borden.”</p> +<p>The woman shook her head.</p> +<p>“Thank you, very much.” Jack rose.</p> +<p>“You go straight down three blocks. Then +ask a policeman. Oh, I guess you’ll get home +safely.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_50' name='page_50'></a>50</span></p> +<p>Jack walked his three blocks. Then there +was a low rumble of thunder. Oh, dear! He +began to cry. Was there never a policeman!</p> +<p>“What’s the matter bub?” asked a kindly +voice.</p> +<p>“I’m lost. I can’t find my way home.”</p> +<p>“Where is home?”</p> +<p>“Arch Street.”</p> +<p>“Come on. We’ll find it. It’s bad to be +lost. Where have you been?”</p> +<p>“Oh, I can’t tell all the places,” sobbingly.</p> +<p>They entered the park. Even that was large +enough to get lost in. It grew darker and darker +and there was a sprinkle of rain. Jack held +tight to the man’s hand, and it seemed as if +the park was full of bears. He was so frightened. +They came to one of the entrances.</p> +<p>“Now you keep straight on and you will +come to Arch Street. Good-bye little lad. +It’s raining quite fast. Hook it along.”</p> +<p>Jack <i>did</i> run. Houses began to look familiar.</p> +<p>Yes, here was his own street. Oh, how glad +he was. He almost flew. And his father ran +down the steps and caught his little wet boy +in his arms.</p> +<p>“Oh, Jack! Jack! Amy,” he cried through the +open hall door, “he’s here! he’s here!” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_51' name='page_51'></a>51</span></p> +<p>There had been a great commotion, for Jack +had been instructed to come straight home +from school even if he went out afterward. +And when it came dinnertime with no Jack, +and the dreadful things that one could conjure +up—being run over, being kidnapped—for +he was such a pretty little fellow! Mr. +Borden telephoned to the Police Precinct, to +two hospitals, went out to search, inquiring +of the neighboring children. No, he had not +been playing with them. Mrs. Borden was +wild with terror. Aunt Florence said some boy +had coaxed him off somewhere, but she was +desperately afraid that he laid crushed +in some hospital. And now they all hugged +and kissed him; and what with the fatigue, +the fright and all, Jack really had an hysteric.</p> +<p>They rubbed him and put him in some dry +clothes and gave him a dose of aromatic +ammonia to steady his nerves, and then some +supper. And he said he went to the park and +came out somewhere, and a man took him and +two other boys for a ride. Dick was such a +nice, big fellow. He said nothing about hanging +on behind, he had a feeling that wouldn’t redound +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_52' name='page_52'></a>52</span> +to the story. And the man took them +out to Roselands and wasn’t coming back––</p> +<p>“Roselands,” cried his mother. “Oh, Jack +you might have been kidnapped. Never, +never go riding with any strange man. And +how did you get back?”</p> +<p>“We walked some, then another man rode +us a little way, and the boys went off +and I got lost more and more and couldn’t +find a cop, and asked every so many people, +and a woman gave me a bun and a cake, and +then a man took me across the park and told +me to go straight along. And I was afraid of +the thunder and all, and I was wet, and oh, +dear!”</p> +<p>“Never mind, Jack. You’re safe home now. +You must come straight home from school, +you have always been told that.”</p> +<p>And he hadn’t been to school at all!</p> +<p>But he was very sleepy and his mother put +him to bed and kissed him a dozen times. The +scoldings would save until tomorrow.</p> +<p>Jack was rather languid the next morning +and a little afraid. But he was the best boy +in school, and brought home a note from his +teacher, never suspecting his sin would find +him out so soon. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_53' name='page_53'></a>53</span></p> +<p>Miss Collins asked his mother if she would +send the reason why Jack was not at school +yesterday afternoon, as they were required to +put it down in the record book.</p> +<p>“Oh, Jack! You didn’t go to school yesterday +afternoon! What <i>were</i> you doing?”</p> +<p>Jack hung his head, “I took a little walk, +and then—and then—I was afraid it was late, +and some children were playing—!”</p> +<p>“Oh, you naughty boy! That is playing +truant. I don’t know what your father +will say!”</p> +<p>“I don’t want to any more. I’d rather go to +school. It wasn’t funny a bit. And I don’t +want to ride in any old wagon that jounces +and jounces, and I did get so tired. What +did the teacher say?”</p> +<p>“They have to put the true reason down in +the record book. And there it will stay always. +My nice little boy was a truant-player. And +we shall all be so ashamed. What will your +father say? And he was so afraid last night +that you were killed!”</p> +<p>“Oh, mama, I never will do it again, never!” +Jack hung round his mother’s neck and cried +and she cried with him, thinking of her tumult +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_54' name='page_54'></a>54</span> +of agony last night. And she had him safe—her +little boy!</p> +<p>“Jack,” she began presently, “can’t you +be brave enough to tell papa how it began. +Climb up in his lap and tell him how sorry +and ashamed you are.”</p> +<p>“Will he strap me?”</p> +<p>“You deserve it I think. But he surely would +if I told him. And when people do wrong they +must bear the punishment.”</p> +<p>“But I never will do it again.”</p> +<p>“Tell him that, too.”</p> +<p>Of course they talked it over at dinner time. +Jack was not at all vainglorious. Afterward, +he hung around and presently climbed up in +his father’s lap.</p> +<p>“My dear little son,” and his father kissed +him.</p> +<p>“But papa, I was badder than all that.” +Badder seemed to admit more enormity +than simply bad, “I—I went in the park to +walk and I staid so long that—that––”</p> +<p>“That you were ashamed to go back?”</p> +<p>“Well”—Jack had spasms of direct truth +tellings now and then, like most children.</p> +<p>“I didn’t feel so ’shamed then as when +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_55' name='page_55'></a>55</span> +teacher spoke of it this afternoon. It looked +so pleasant I thought I’d go on. Some of the +boys said it was funny to play hookey, but I +don’t want to do it ever again. And if I had +been killed somewhere!” Jack began to cry.</p> +<p>The father held him close for some minutes.</p> +<p>“Jack,” he said at length, “you have been +a very bad boy, and I am glad it wasn’t a +happy afternoon. I hope you never will +play truant again. Think how mama and I +suffered not knowing what had happened +to you and afraid our little boy might be +brought home dead. You ought to be punished +but you seem to have suffered somewhat, +and I am going to trust you, only, you can’t +go walking with me on Sunday, and maybe +there are some other pleasures you will +be deprived of. I’m awfully sorry and mortified +that your name must go on record +down at City Hall as a truant from school. +Some of my friends may see it. These things +are sure to get to daylight and make your +family ashamed of them, and your teachers; +just try to think of that when you do the things +you know are wrong, for even a little boy will +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_56' name='page_56'></a>56</span> +know that. Didn’t something tell you +staying from school was wrong?”</p> +<p>Jack crept closer in his father’s arms. He +was too young for much reasoning, and the +man wondered if he would have been so penitent +if he had had what boys call a real good +time.</p> +<p>They let the matter go at that. Jack looked +very wistful when his father took the babies +out Sunday morning and said no word to him. +He followed Marilla round as she dusted up +the rooms and wanted to know about Bethany +Home.</p> +<p>“Were the children always good?”</p> +<p>“Oh, no. There were a good many bad ones +among them.”</p> +<p>“Did they have a strap?”</p> +<p>“Yes, a bigger one than your father’s.”</p> +<p>“Will papa get a bigger one when I’m big?”</p> +<p>“Oh, Jack, I hope you won’t need any strap. +Why can’t you be a good boy?”</p> +<p>Jack gave a long sigh. “Sometimes badness +comes into your mind just sudden like.”</p> +<p>After a pause—“Did you like Bethany +Home?”</p> +<p>“Not as well as being here. I’ve told you +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_57' name='page_57'></a>57</span> +that forty times. And there were no little +babies. And no dessert, only a teeny little bit +on Sunday. And just a sweet cracker for tea.”</p> +<p>“What makes you like the babies? They +can’t talk nor do anything. And they are not +as pretty as I am. Folks used to say when I +was real little, ‘Oh, what a lovely child.’”</p> +<p>Marilla laughed, Jack did know that he +was very good looking.</p> +<p>“They’ll be pretty by and by. And they are +real sweet. I like babies. I like kittens and +little chickens.”</p> +<p>“I like a dog. Cats scratch.”</p> +<p>“Not unless you torment them. Now I +am going down stairs to put the dishes on the +table. Then I must go and help Bridget.”</p> +<p>“Bridget won’t let me come down in the +kitchen. She chases me out with a stick.”</p> +<p>“Children are a bother in the kitchen. They +ask so many questions.”</p> +<p>Then his mother and Aunt Florence came +home from church, and his father with both +babies asleep. He carried them upstairs.</p> +<p>Marilla was getting to be quite a handy +table maid for all but the heavy dishes. She +placed them on the dumb waiter and started +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_58' name='page_58'></a>58</span> +them down stairs. Mrs. Borden took off the +others. When the babies were awake Marilla +had to stay up with them.</p> +<p>Mrs. Borden dished the cream. “Jack will +not have any today,” his mother said.</p> +<p>Jack sat still with his eyes full of tears but +said not a word.</p> +<p>But he went to Sunday school with Marilla +and behaved beautifully.</p> +<p>“If he was always as good as this,” the +child thought, “how I should love him.” He +did not even tease for a walk, a thing she was +quite afraid he would do.</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='CHAPTER_IV_POOR_CINDERELLA' id='CHAPTER_IV_POOR_CINDERELLA'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER IV</h2> +<h3>POOR CINDERELLA</h3> +</div> +<p>Oh, how busy they were and the babies took +this opportunity to begin the cutting of teeth. +The auto came for Aunt Hetty. Some of the +parlor furnishings were packed away, everything +swathed in linen. The closing exercises +of the kindergarten took place and Jack distinguished +himself by repeating a pretty little +poem. In September he would be six.</p> +<p>Then came the last week. They would go +on Saturday. Sunday was Fourth of July but +it would be held on Monday. Trunks were +packed, the last bit of shopping done. The +babies fretted and Marilla took them out +morning and afternoon with strict injunctions +to keep on the shady side of the street. It +seemed to grow hotter and hotter. The child +lost her appetite and could not eat Bridget’s +choice tid-bits. Oh, how her little legs ached, +and her back felt sometimes as if it would +fall apart.</p> +<p>“It’s good you are going,” declared Bridget. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_60' name='page_60'></a>60</span></p> +<p>“You’re almost a skeleton. Goodness knows +I shall miss you enough, and just be thinking +of your coming back.”</p> +<p>Jack had gone down town with his mother +to get some sandals and slippers. She was +very glad, for sometimes his talking almost +set her crazy, and she really was afraid to be +impatient with him.</p> +<p>She had found a beautiful quiet street +with great trees that fairly met in the middle +of it. Many of the families were away. She +sat on one special stoop where the house +was all shut up tight. There were no children +in the street.</p> +<p>It seemed this day, Thursday, as if she would +never get there. The babies were so heavy. She +sat down on the second step, leaning against +the stone column and pushed the carriage +to and fro. Curious shadows went dancing +before her eyes, sometimes she could not +see at all. And she was so sleepy!</p> +<p>Pansy threw her rattle out and cried for +it. Marilla stepped down to pick it up and +fell on the sidewalk. What was the matter +with her legs? they seemed to have lost their +strength. She crawled up again. All the world, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_61' name='page_61'></a>61</span> +the trees and houses went flying round and +all was dark. She was falling down—down—Poor +little Cinderella!</p> +<p>The babies missed the soft soothing voice. +They cried louder and louder, then howled. +Some children came to see what was the matter +two quite big boys among them. The policeman +looked down from the corner and paced +with his slow tread.</p> +<p>“What’s the row here?” he asked.</p> +<p>A lady came down one of the stoops on the +opposite side of the street; a rather tall, slim +woman in a soft gray dress and hat with +violets around the crown. She crossed over. +The policeman had taken the girl by the +shoulder and given her a rough shake.</p> +<p>“Those children howl enough to wake the +dead, and she’s asleep here.”</p> +<p>But as he partly raised her Miss Armitage +saw that her face was deadly white.</p> +<p>“Oh, poor child!” she cried. “What can be +the matter? And whose babies are these?”</p> +<p>“They’re Jack Borden’s little sisters—twins. +And thats the nuss gal,” said one of the big +boys.</p> +<p>“Do you know where they live?” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_62' name='page_62'></a>62</span></p> +<p>“Round in Arch street.”</p> +<p>“Could you take them there?”</p> +<p>“Well—yes’m.”</p> +<p>“Then take them,” rejoined the lady.</p> +<p>The carriage being moved she sat down on +the step and took the girl in her arms.</p> +<p>“She isn’t dead—I see the flutter in the +temple.”</p> +<p>“Better go to the hospital,” proposed the +policeman.</p> +<p>Marilla opened her eyes and glanced up +but did not seem to notice anything; then the +lids fell and the beautiful long lashes shadowed +her cheeks.</p> +<p>“Carry her to my house across the street,” +and she led the way.</p> +<p>He picked up the light burden as if it had +been a feather. She opened the door and asked +him to take the child upstairs and lay her on +the couch.</p> +<p>“I am obliged to you,” she said. “In a +way I am in Settlement work. We’ll have a +doctor and see what is the matter. Then I’ll +decide about the hospital. And I will find out +about those people.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_63' name='page_63'></a>63</span></p> +<p>“You’re a good sort, ma’am,” and he +touched his hat brim to her.</p> +<p>“Jane,” she called. “This poor child isn’t +exactly in a faint, but something is the matter. +Get a warm bath ready and we’ll put her in. +I’ll telephone to Dr. Richards.”</p> +<p>“Yes—he was just going out. Would be up +for a first call.”</p> +<p>Miss Armitage undressed her. She was +clean and neat, but the poor little body was +painfully thin. Then they carried her to the +bath. Jane rubbed her softly and she gave +some responsive sighs.</p> +<p>“What a pretty lot of little curls and fine +as silk. I do wonder who she can be?”</p> +<p>“She’s the little nurse girl who brings those +babies, twins I suppose they are, and sits on +the stoop over opposite.”</p> +<p>“What happened?”</p> +<p>“Well it’s some sort of a collapse. Now I’ll +find a nice nightgown, and we’ll see what the +doctor says.”</p> +<p>Marilla opened her eyes. They were a +sort of blueish gray, but now very heavy and +dull. Her lips moved, but the tone was very +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_64' name='page_64'></a>64</span> +low. It sounded as if she said “fairy godmother” +and Miss Armitage smiled.</p> +<p>“Oh, poor little thing!”</p> +<p>Dr. Richards flew around in his auto.</p> +<p>“Oh, I thought something had happened +to you,” he began.</p> +<p>“It has,” and she detailed the simple story.</p> +<p>He followed her up to the room. It was +such a lovely, restful room. A white bed in +the alcove, white window drapery, a carpet +with considerable light blue in it, a dressing +case, a writing desk, some books and pictures, +mostly Madonnas.</p> +<p>“Poor child,” he said. “She’s been worked +too hard. All her strength seems gone. And +a case of heat prostration. It’s been an awful +day. Who is she?”</p> +<p>Miss Armitage told over the incident. +“I have seen her sitting there several times. +It is shady in the afternoon.”</p> +<p>“Two fat babies,” and he laughed. “I +should think one would be enough for such +a child to manage. Overwork and underfeeding +I think, and the heat. I’ll see if I can rouse +her.”</p> +<p>Marilla opened her eyes and the lids +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_65' name='page_65'></a>65</span> +seemed to fall from absolute weariness. The +lips moved but made no sound.</p> +<p>“It is a kind of comatose state. Not knowing +all that is back of it I can’t quite make +up my mind. If this awful heat would let +up! I’ll leave some drops to be given to her +and will come in one my first round in the +morning. I haven’t been to the Settlement +House yet.”</p> +<p>“Oh, you must go. That little Mary Burns +died at noon, and her mother is half crazy +over it. Poor little thing, deformed and all +that. This child has a nice straight body and +a fine smooth skin. I’ll go round in Arch +street and see what I can learn about her.”</p> +<p>“She looks worth saving if life really holds +anything for her. Poor things! Why are so +many sent into the world ‘just to toil.’”</p> +<p>“I was going over––”</p> +<p>“Never mind now. I’ll attend to it all, and +see the Burns’ priest. Don’t be worried. +These drops will keep up her strength,” +nodding to Marilla. “And I will report in +the morning.”</p> +<p>Dr. Richards went his way. Miss Armitage +sat and considered. Perhaps it would be as +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_66' name='page_66'></a>66</span> +well to go to Mrs. Borden’s. They would be +feeling much alarmed, no doubt. She explained +to Jane and put on her hat again and picked +up her sun umbrella, for some streets were +still in a glow. This was the best part of the +city however, and there were some fine trees.</p> +<p>She stopped and looked in a directory. +There was only one Borden living on Arch +street, a Mr. John Borden, lawyer. She made +a note of the number. Arch street was some +distance farther west, and then only a block +or so. A very nice looking three-story brick +with a stone stoop. She mounted and rang +the bell. There certainly was a child or +children crying.</p> +<p>A young woman much distraught answered +the door. And now positive howls greeted +her ears.</p> +<p>“We are in such trouble,” apologized the +woman.</p> +<p>“I am Miss Armitage and live in Loraine +place, nearly opposite where the little girl +fainted. Did the babies get home safely?”</p> +<p>“Oh, we are so glad! Won’t you please +come upstairs for my sister can’t leave the +children. We have been almost crazy! One +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_67' name='page_67'></a>67</span> +boy said she fell off the steps. Is she much +hurt?”</p> +<p>“She had a bad fainting spell. The doctor +came and he hardly knows what to think +until tomorrow. The policeman proposed +sending her to the Hospital, but I am one +of the managers of the Settlement House +in Beacon street, so I had her brought over +to my house. A fall, you said?”</p> +<p>“That was what a boy said—that she +tumbled off the step. Oh, Pansy dear, do +hush! You miss Marilla, don’t you? The best +little nurse in all the world. Oh, what <i>can</i> we +do without her!”</p> +<p>Mrs. Borden was pacing the floor with the +baby’s head against her shoulder and gently +patting her. She did not scream now, but +sobbed in a very sleepy fashion.</p> +<p>“You see, we are to start on Saturday noon, +and we shall not come back until the middle +of September. We thought it would be so +nice for Marilla, too, she’d kind of run down +though she wasn’t at all ill. Bridget worried +that she ate so little and she was growing +thin.”</p> +<p>“How long has she been with you?” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_68' name='page_68'></a>68</span></p> +<p>“I took her from an institution—the Bethany +Home—about the middle of October. She +was just twelve, the Matron said. I think she +was very glad to come. She’s had a good home +and plenty to eat. And one funny thing is +that Bridget took such a fancy to her, and +though Bridget’s good as gold, she has some +queer streaks.”</p> +<p>Mrs. Borden sat down and drew a long +breath. Pansy had fallen asleep at last.</p> +<p>“And we never let her lift the children or +carry them up and down. I think babies are +sometimes injured for life that way in falling. +They used to sit on the rug and she’d tell them +stories. I think she must have made them out +of her head—funny things and she’d act them +off and the babies would laugh and laugh—it +was as good as a play. They seemed to +understand every word. Marilla was a born +nurse girl. But what can we do? We must +have someone, and there’s only such a little +time.”</p> +<p>Miss Armitage was thinking.</p> +<p>“Perhaps I might help you out,” she said +kindly. “There is a young girl with us who +worked in a factory until she gave out. We +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_69' name='page_69'></a>69</span> +sent her to the Rest House in the country and +she <i>did</i> improve, but they wouldn’t take her +back in the factory. She’s a nice pleasant +girl about seventeen.”</p> +<p>“Oh, how good of you to think of it! But +I can’t pay high wages, for there’ll be her board +and it won’t be hard. When the babies are +well they are as good as kittens though they +can’t scamper around so much. And they’re +so fat they won’t walk very soon. It’ll just +be sitting round and amusing them and looking +after their food. I couldn’t give more than +three dollars a week—we are not at all rich,” +with a short laugh of apology.</p> +<p>“I think Ellen would come for awhile.”</p> +<p>“And I should want Marilla as soon as she +was well enough. You see she’s bound-out to +me, and we all like her so much. I don’t see +what <i>could</i> have happened to her. She has +been out in the fresh air most of the time and +we always tell her to go slow with the babies, +not rush along in the heat. What did she say?”</p> +<p>“Oh, she hasn’t spoken at all. She lies just +unconscious.”</p> +<p>“Good gracious! Oh, you don’t think she +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_70' name='page_70'></a>70</span> +will die?” and Mrs. Borden really turned pale +with fright.</p> +<p>“A person sometimes lies that way for +days when overcome with the heat. The +doctor can tell better tomorrow.”</p> +<p>“Oh, poor little Marilla! She is so sweet-tempered. +And you were so good not to send +her off to a hospital. How ever should we +have found her! There is so little time. When +shall we hear about this other girl?”</p> +<p>“I will telephone as soon as I go home and +tell them to send her in the morning,” and +Miss Armitage rose.</p> +<p>“We are so much obliged.” She followed +her visitor out in the hall.</p> +<p>“Do not come down,” said Miss Armitage. +“And I hope the babies will improve.”</p> +<p>“Thank you—for everything.”</p> +<p>The sun was going down and some stray +wafts of wind wandered along, which made +the heat rather more endurable.</p> +<p>“Jane,” she said as she walked into the room, +“did you notice any bruise on the child’s +head while you were bathing her. She fell off +of the steps it seemed.”</p> +<p>“There was none on her forehead. Her hair +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_71' name='page_71'></a>71</span> +is very thick and I really did not look only to +see that it was in a nice, clean condition. She +hasn’t suffered for want of cleanliness.”</p> +<p>Then she told Jane all she had learned, +adding:</p> +<p>“They seem very nice kind of people. But +oh! those babies!”</p> +<p>Miss Armitage telephoned to the settlement +House, stating the case.</p> +<p>“Yes, Ellen Day was still there and would be +very glad of the position. She would go the +first thing in the morning.”</p> +<p>Jane insisted on bringing in a cot and sleeping +beside the little girl who lay quite as still +as if she were dead. Now and then she gave +her the drops and fanned the air about her. +The morning came and the city was astir +again. But it was quiet in Loraine place. So +many had gone away and there were no +trolleys nearby.</p> +<p>They looked over Marilla’s head and found +one spot above the ear that had a small bit +of discoloration, but it was not in a dangerous +place. The doctor came in. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_72' name='page_72'></a>72</span></p> +<p>“I did not think there would be much +change,” he said. Then he tried to rouse her. +Jane held her up while they gave her a little +milk which she swallowed without difficulty. +She opened her eyes and closed them again, +then lay quiet.</p> +<p>He listened to Miss Armitage’s interview +and nodded as she went along.</p> +<p>“The child is terribly run down. I think +she has worked harder than any one imagined. +But they seem to have appreciated her.”</p> +<p>No one could guess the strain of talking so +incessantly to amuse the babies, of reading to +Jack, of having eyes all over to see that he +did not torment the little ones, push their +playthings out of the way, give them sly +pinches or tweak their hair. She did hate to +tell tales on him. And when he coaxed to +go out with her he was a constant care. +School had been closed for a fortnight. Oh, +how tired she was every night!</p> +<p>“You don’t eat more than a bird,” Bridget +would complain.</p> +<p>“But I’m never hungry now, I shall be so +glad when we get to the real country, and +grass, and everything. I’m so tired of the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_73' name='page_73'></a>73</span> +rows and rows of red brick houses, and they +all seem so hot.”</p> +<p>And now Bridget was almost heart broken.</p> +<p>Ellen Day came in to tell Miss Armitage +how glad she was that a good word had been +spoken for her. “And she was sure she should +like the ladies and the pretty little boy. But +how fat the babies were and not a bit pretty. +They were to start at twelve tomorrow.”</p> +<p>It was still hot, but in the afternoon it +clouded up and the evening brought a most +refreshing shower. The hot wave was broken.</p> +<p>Sunday afternoon they had rolled the couch +over by the window. Miss Armitage sat +reading. Jane had gone out for a walk. The +child seemed to have grown thinner in these +few days.</p> +<p>She opened her eyes slowly and looked intently +at the woman sitting there in her soft, +white attire. She was so sweet and pretty.</p> +<p>“Are you a fairy godmother?” Marilla +asked in a weak, wandering tone.</p> +<p>“A—what?” smiling in surprise.</p> +<p>“A fairy godmother. You don’t look like +the other one, but then it was night and we +went to the King’s ball. Oh, it was so +splendid!” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_74' name='page_74'></a>74</span></p> +<p>“When was that?” in a soft, persuasive tone.</p> +<p>“Oh, a long time ago. I was Cinderella, and +every new Cinderella dances with the Prince, +you know. Only they can’t dance but once +with him.”</p> +<p>It was something the child had read, +doubtless.</p> +<p>“Do you feel better?” she asked tenderly.</p> +<p>Marilla glanced around and sighed. Then +she said in a frightened tone—</p> +<p>“Oh, where am I? And where are the +babies? I heard them cry.”</p> +<p>“You are all safe and right. And the babies +and all the family went down on Long Island.”</p> +<p>“It’s so queer.”</p> +<p>The eyelids drooped again and she fell +asleep.</p> +<p>An hour later she woke, and seemed to +study the room and the lady.</p> +<p>“I never was at fairyland but that once,” +she said slowly. “Then there was such lovely +music and dancing and everybody was so +gay. It’s beautiful here and you are very +sweet. I don’t know how I came here. Must +I go back?” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_75' name='page_75'></a>75</span></p> +<p>“Not until you are well. You have been +ill. And you were brought here––”</p> +<p>“I can’t think. There were the babies. I +went to get something and stumbled and +everything looked so queer, blue and red and +full of stars, and then I went down and down +and all was dark and I kept going down––”</p> +<p>“You fainted and were brought over here. +The babies were taken home. And you have +been ill, but now you are going to get well.”</p> +<p>“I’ve never been real ill. There were the +measles once in the home and we had to stay +in bed. I was so hungry. Oh, do you know +where Bridget is? She was so good to me.”</p> +<p>“She is at Mr. Borden’s.”</p> +<p>“Could I please to have a drink?”</p> +<p>Miss Armitage brought a glass of milk.</p> +<p>“Would you like something to eat—a bit +of custard?”</p> +<p>“I’m not hungry. But the milk was good. +Thank you. Who brought me back from that +great dark pit?”</p> +<p>“The doctor, I guess,” with a smile.</p> +<p>“Could I be turned over?”</p> +<p>Miss Armitage turned her so her face was +toward the sky. She drew a long breath. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_76' name='page_76'></a>76</span></p> +<p>“Do you mind if I should go to sleep?”</p> +<p>“Oh, no, and I’ll read to you.”</p> +<p>The sweet voice soon lulled her to sleep. +And she did not speak again all through the +evening, but was rather restless all night. +No one had to watch with her now, but Miss +Armitage was troubled at the soft, long sighs.</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='CHAPTER_V_THE_FAIRY_GODMOTHER' id='CHAPTER_V_THE_FAIRY_GODMOTHER'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER V</h2> +<h3>THE FAIRY GODMOTHER</h3> +</div> +<p>Marilla wondered what the bells were +ringing for. And then pistols were firing. Oh, +yes, it was Fourth of July. She would get +up—but her thin legs gave way and her head +spun round. All the room was strange, and +everybody seemed mixed up. Then a soft +voice said—</p> +<p>“I hope you are better this morning.”</p> +<p>“I feel—queer—”</p> +<p>The face was flushed, the little hands were +hot.</p> +<p>“The doctor was afraid of fever,” Miss +Armitage said to Jane, “and it has come.”</p> +<p>But the doctor was in early. There would +be so many calls on him, by and by.</p> +<p>“Yes, it is fever. She seemed better yesterday. +And she can’t spare any strength to +be burned up, so we must do our best. I don’t +dare treat her as you would a robust child, but +I’ll give her something every hour, and get +in again before night. Oh, no, I think it is +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_78' name='page_78'></a>78</span> +hardly critical,” in answer to the lady’s +anxious look.</p> +<p>Marilla did not seem to know any one. +She muttered little catches of talk about the +babies and Jack, always pleading with him +not to do this or that. Once she laughed and +waved her hand to and fro as if in response to +music and said—“All the Cinderellas! How +beautiful!”</p> +<p>A tall, plain-looking Irish woman came in +at midafternoon.</p> +<p>“Tell her it’s Bridget,” she said. “Can’t I +see her?”</p> +<p>“Oh, yes,” replied Miss Armitage, “But I +am afraid she will not recognize you.”</p> +<p>So she led the way upstairs. Marilla lay +on the cot now and was moving her hands as if +acting something.</p> +<p>“Ah, the dear!” Bridget knelt down by the +side of the bed. “Don’t you remember Bridget +whose come to care for you so much? Ah +dear! It’s meself that sorry enough to see ye +lyin’ this way, thin as a ghost.”</p> +<p>She opened her eyes, “Bridget! Oh, you +know the night I went to the ball and fairy +godmother turned my old frock into the beautifullest +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_79' name='page_79'></a>79</span> +frock, all lace and ribbons. And I +danced with the Prince and had such a lovely +time!”</p> +<p>Then the eyelids fell and she lapsed into +unconsciousness.</p> +<p>Miss Armitage glanced inquiringly.</p> +<p>“It was along of a dream that she had once; +it <i>was</i> a dream for such things don’t happen +now-a-days, more’s the pity. But she always +believes it real and true, the dear, that she +was Cinderella, and had been there. She’s +the best little thing I ever saw, and she never +told you a lie or took a bit of cake without +asking. In the beginning she must have belonged +to some nice folks; and just look at her +pretty hands and feet, light and small enough +to dance at any king’s ball. But it’s hard on +the nice ones that have to go to Homes and +be put out for little drudges. Though they’re +nice people, the Bordens, as you may guess by +my stayin’ with ’em goin’ on five year.”</p> +<p>“And she wasn’t over-worked,” ventured +Miss Armitage. “She is so thin.”</p> +<p>“She’s been falling away dreadful the last +month. Well, she wasn’t and she was. There +was an old lady living up on the third floor, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_80' name='page_80'></a>80</span> +an aunt or something and she was afraid of +bad spells, she did have some, and she’d +ring her bell for Marilla an’ it would be upstairs +an’ down, sometimes way down to my +kitchen, and lugging those two fat babies +up and down the street––”</p> +<p>“Did she have to carry them any?”</p> +<p>“Oh, no. The mistress didn’t want her to +lift them. She was afraid of a fall and their +backs would get broken. So when they were +big enough they sat on the floor and she talked +to them and told them funny things and +acted ’em off and laughed, and they’d laugh +too. It was like a play to see ’em. And they’d +jabber back and she’d make b’lieve she understood +it all. She was a wonderful child’s +nurse an’ there’ll be trouble enough without +her. But the babies went to bed early an’ then +she’d come down an’ wipe the dishes for me +an’ they made no call on her. But Jack was +a holy terror, he was that bad, but he went +to school in the spring. If he was mine I’d +skin him alive. But it was hard dragging them +fat, heavy things around. Will you tell me +just how you come to find her? They’ve +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_81' name='page_81'></a>81</span> +missed her so. They screech enough to raise +the dead, an’ I know it’s for her.”</p> +<p>Miss Armitage told the incident over.</p> +<p>“The saints bless and protect you ma’am +for not lettin’ her be sent to a hospital! But +do you think she <i>can</i> get well? And if that +other maid suits, couldn’t you keep her here +all summer and let her get good and strong? +I’m going out to my cousin at Fairfield to +stay until next Monday. The boss will be +down with his folks until then, and all the +vallerbles have been sent out of the house so +we can leave it alone. And when I come back +we may have a plan for the poor dear that +isn’t baby tendin’. O the little darlin’! Don’t +let her die, ma’am, she’s so nice and sweet!”</p> +<p>She caught the little hand and kissed it, +and winked away the tears that glistened in +her eyes.</p> +<p>“I’ll do my best, you may be sure. And when +you come back, I shall be glad to have a call +from you. And by that time she may know +us all. Thank you for your sympathy.”</p> +<p>Bridget nodded and turned away. Miss +Armitage studied the little girl with a new +interest. She had seen beautiful children +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_82' name='page_82'></a>82</span> +among the very poor, in the slums, with +no ancestry back of them. There was something +about this child—not beauty either, that +set one to thinking. She must learn something +about her.</p> +<p>And then she smiled over the fancy of +being Cinderella and dancing with the Prince +at the ball. What a happy dream it must +have been for the child! She was glad to hear +that she had not been badly treated or ill +fed. She could trust the kindly Bridget for +that.</p> +<p>When the doctor came in Sunday morning +a smile lighted up his face.</p> +<p>“A real improvement,” he exclaimed. “No +fever and a normal temperature. Pulse +stronger. Now, with nourishing diet and some +salt in the baths we shall have her about +again, though I’ve had several patients lie +weeks in this state in the hot weather.”</p> +<p>Marilla glanced up and smiled back.</p> +<p>“Why, I feel all well,” she began. “Couldn’t +I get up.”</p> +<p>“Yes,” said Miss Armitage. “Jane will you +bring that small pink kimona and put it on.”</p> +<p>She took the doctor over in the bay window. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_83' name='page_83'></a>83</span></p> +<p>“The Borden’s cook came in to see the +child. She seemed very fond of her and said +she was the sweetest little thing. And that +she was wonderful with the babies. I was glad +she had not been ‘put upon’ as they say +over to the house. And that she always +had enough to eat. And she wasn’t allowed +to lift the babies––”</p> +<p>“But dragged them about in the carriage. +Such children are not strong enough for nursemaids. +She was pretty well used up, and she’ll +be sometime getting over it.”</p> +<p>“I’ve taken a curious fancy to the child. +Jane thinks she must have belonged to what +we call ‘nice people.’ She flattered me by +asking, the first coherent words she uttered if +I was not ‘a fairy godmother?’ Think of +that!” smiling.</p> +<p>“Well, <i>I</i> think you have been that many a +time. I wonder you haven’t filled the house +with children.”</p> +<p>“I’m always full of pity for them. But +when they are cured and put in some place +where they can do their best, and have a +little love and care, I go on to the next. I +do not believe I am a real missionary, and I +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_84' name='page_84'></a>84</span> +have a theory—it may not be a very noble +one,” and a soft color suffused her fine face, +“that people who bring children into the world +ought to be made to feel the responsibility +of them and not shift them on society at large, +trusting Providence to take care of them.”</p> +<p>“That is what ought to be taught—the +responsibility of children. Women as well as +men sin in this respect. The woman who forgives +the drunken husband and takes him +back until tired of working he goes off again +leaving another child to add to the poorly-fed +throng she can hardly take care of. I +think the man who goes off the second time, +or who does not take care of the children he +has, should be put in some institution and +made to earn their support. And the girls +ought to be educated up to better ideas of +marriage. It doesn’t near always conduce to +morality. I preach sermons to you—don’t I?” +and he gave a short laugh. “And we can never +set the world straight. But these Homes and +Republics are doing a good work in training +children to self reliance.”</p> +<p>Jane wrapped the little girl in the kimona and +lifted her up in the reclining chair. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_85' name='page_85'></a>85</span></p> +<p>“Oh, that’s so nice. How good you are! +And everything is so lovely. Oh, I’ll soon be +well.”</p> +<p>Then the little face clouded over. Oh, she +truly would not mind being ill if she could +stay in this beautiful house where everything +was so quiet. Jane went in and out, and presently +she brought a cup of broth. How good +it tasted!</p> +<p>“Would you mind if I went back to bed? +I’m so sleepy.”</p> +<p>“Oh, no,” returned Jane, and she put her +gently back on the cot where she soon fell +asleep.</p> +<p>There was slight rise of fever and restlessness +about noon. She talked in broken +snatches imploring Jack not to do this or that +and not to pinch the babies. Then she was +so tired, so tired! But about midafternoon, +she seemed to rouse and come to herself and +said she was hungry. There was broth and +hot milk and some stewed fruit, and Jane +brushed her hair that fell in a bed of rings +and asked if she didn’t want to sit up. She +brought her over by the window so she could +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_86' name='page_86'></a>86</span> +look out, but the back yard was very pretty +for it was gay with blooming flowers.</p> +<p>Miss Armitage had been to church, and at +two she had a class of young girls who were +clerks in stores. Half of them were going away +on Monday to the Rest House for a week, and +they were full of that. Two of them had never +been before. Was it like Coney Island?</p> +<p>“It is not far from the shore, the broad Sound +that leads out to the ocean. But there are +not side shows. Just rowing and bathing, and +a ride every day in a big omnibus. And plenty +of girls. Oh, you won’t be lonesome;” and +Miss Armitage smiled.</p> +<p>“Another girl and I went away last summer +to a house that wasn’t country but a +beautiful street with lawns in front. There +were three ladies, and oh, they were so particular. +They did not have any story papers +and the books were all dull and religious and +if you took up one you must put it back in +the same place. They didn’t like us to talk +‘store’ nor sing any street songs and one lady +only played hymns on the piano. Oh, we <i>were</i> +so homesick.”</p> +<p>“The Rest House has a big farm and chickens +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_87' name='page_87'></a>87</span> +and two cows, and a tennis court and croquet. +And there are lovely walks. And +hammocks and swings.”</p> +<p>“That’s the ticket!” said one of the girls. +“You want some fun.”</p> +<p>Miss Armitage did not check her. She +thought of the amusements and pleasures of +her youth. Then she came home to her +little girl whose face lighted up with gladness, +and who put out her thin hand.</p> +<p>“You look lovely,” Marilla said. “And +I’m getting almost well.”</p> +<p>“That is good news,” and the lady smiled.</p> +<p>“Only it seems so queer when I try to think. +It is such a long while. I seem to have been +lost and couldn’t find my way out. Do you +know where the babies are?”</p> +<p>“They all went down to Long Island. I +sent them a new girl. And Bridget was here +to inquire about you.”</p> +<p>“Oh, she was so good to me. I was a little +afraid of her at first, especially when she said +she’d ‘skin me alive.’ Don’t you think it +would hurt dreadfully? She used to threaten +Jack, but she never did it. And she said that +about the fairy godmother and the King’s +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_88' name='page_88'></a>88</span> +ball was a dream. What is it that goes to +strange places when you are asleep? And +how can you enjoy and remember all, and +hear the music for days afterward? If there +are two lives, one for day and one for night, +why doesn’t the night one go straight on?”</p> +<p>“You’ll have to ask the doctor these +curious puzzles. They are beyond me.”</p> +<p>“Is Bridget at the house?” she inquired +after a moment’s thought.</p> +<p>“She was going away to some cousin to +stay a week as Mr. Borden will be down to—Bayside, +I think it is, all the week.”</p> +<p>“When I get well I suppose I shall have to go +back to the babies. You know I am a bound +out girl—until I am eighteen. But they’ll +be growing bigger all the time. I wish they +were as pretty as Jack. Don’t you think all +babies ought to be pretty? And have curly +hair?”</p> +<p>“I think the curly hair quite an addition.”</p> +<p>“There’s another puzzle. Why should +some hair curl and some hair keep straight?”</p> +<p>“I don’t know. But your’s is curly,” +smiling.</p> +<p>“Yes, I like it. At the Home there were +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_89' name='page_89'></a>89</span> +two other girls with curly hair. And the +nurse said it made us vain, so she cut it close +to the skin and she said it wouldn’t curl +any more. That was last summer. But it +did when it grew out, and I was glad. I tried +to make the babies curl, and Mrs. Borden +said she’d give me a silver dollar if I could. +But it was <i>so</i> straight and there wasn’t much +of it. Do you remember the fat little girl of +the Campbell’s Soups? The babies look a +good deal like her. They have high foreheads +and round eyes full of wonder, and +such chubby cheeks. But Aunt Florence +said Mr. Borden was just such a baby and +he isn’t at all chubby now and has dark +eyes. Jack’s are dark. Maybe they’ll grow +prettier. But they’re good and—funny. +They laugh over everything, and they seem +to understand everything I say or read to +them. I wonder if they will like the new +girl.”</p> +<p>“She is very pleased and, I think, patient—four +years older than you.”</p> +<p>“Oh, suppose they didn’t want me back?” +and the child drew a long breath of half +fear. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_90' name='page_90'></a>90</span></p> +<p>“There will be something else,” in an assuring +tone.</p> +<p>Marilla leaned her head back on the pillow. +She had talked herself tired. How queer +that was, too, when she had talked for hours +to the babies.</p> +<p>“Would you like me to read to you?” +inquired Miss Armitage.</p> +<p>“Oh, yes, if it’s verses. There’s a curious +music in verses that goes all through you, +keeping time to something in your brain. I +just love them.”</p> +<p>The lady found “Songs of Seven” with its +musical lilt and the child listened wide-eyed +as if it made pictures to her. Then the doctor +came in and was very much pleased over her +improvement.</p> +<p>But the next day she was quite languid +again. She took a few steps when suddenly +everything swam before her eyes and she +would have fallen but for Jane’s strong arm.</p> +<p>“Oh, you don’t suppose I can never walk +any more?” she cried in affright. “For +there was a nurse at the Home who fell down +that way and she had been very well, too. +But something happened to her hips. I can’t +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_91' name='page_91'></a>91</span> +think what they called it, and she never could +walk again. They had to send her to the +hospital and she could get about just a little +on crutches. Oh, dear” and Marilla began to +cry.</p> +<p>“There don’t think of such a thing. It was +only weakness,” comforted Miss Armitage. +“Once when I was ill I fainted a great many +times for just nothing at all. You have +not had a chance to get strong yet.”</p> +<p>Marilla recalled seeing the nurse brought +down stairs on a stretcher, they called it. And +the doctor said she could never walk again. +Oh, how dreadful that would be. She turned +her face over on the pillow and let the tears +drop silently, and she could not swallow any +supper, something lay so heavy on her breast. +Miss Armitage kissed her, and Marilla twined +her arms around the soft white neck hardly +hidden by the lace. There had never been +any one to love during the later years. And +her mother had been busy and away in a store.</p> +<p>“Don’t worry, dear,” said the soothing voice. +“God takes care of us all.”</p> +<p>The sun was shining the next morning and +the next door canary hanging out on the back +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_92' name='page_92'></a>92</span> +porch was singing with all his might and +main. Such long sweet warbles, such a merry +staccato with little pauses, as if he asked—“Now, +what do you think of that?” and the +child laughed with a sense of glee. Oh, how +nice it would be to be a bird. But she wouldn’t +want to live in a cage <i>all</i> the time.</p> +<p>Jane came and gave her a bath, rubbed her +softly but thoroughly across the hips and up +and down the spine, holding her up with one +strong arm. Marilla took a frightened step, +then another and laughingly flung her arms +around Jane’s neck, crying—</p> +<p>“Oh, I can walk! I can walk!”</p> +<p>“Why did you think you could never walk +again?” Jane laughed wholesomely.</p> +<p>“I felt so queer—and I thought of the woman +at the Home.”</p> +<p>“But she must have been quite an old +body. They do get paralyzed; children don’t. +Oh, you must not think of dreadful things. +Come, see how you can walk.”</p> +<p>Jane’s arm was around her and she led her +back to the room and dressed her. Miss +Armitage came up just then and greeted her +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_93' name='page_93'></a>93</span> +with a happy smile. But Marilla felt shaky +and was very glad to sit down on the couch.</p> +<p>“Now I shall bring you up some breakfast,” +said Jane.</p> +<p>“Don’t you suppose I could go down and +have some real breakfast at the table—not +today, but sometime.”</p> +<p>Then Marilla flushed. She was a bound-out +girl and had always taken her meals with +Bridget.</p> +<p>“Yes, I think so. We will see what the +doctor says this morning. I shall have to +go out presently and see twenty girls get +started for a vacation. They are in stores +and factories, and have two weeks in the summer, +and the Rest House doesn’t charge any +board—they earn so little. When you are +well enough to travel about, I must take you +out to the House.”</p> +<p>Maybe she wouldn’t have to go back to the +babies right away!</p> +<p>The breakfast tasted good, though it was +only a poached egg and some toast. But +she didn’t seem very hungry, and though she +felt sort of joyously well at heart her body +was tired and she lay on the couch to rest. The +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_94' name='page_94'></a>94</span> +doctor found her quiet and there was a +whimsical light playing over his face and +settling in his eyes.</p> +<p>“So you haven’t run away yet?” he began.</p> +<p>“I don’t believe I could run very far. Yet +I seem quite well—and it’s queer, too.”</p> +<p>Jane said you fainted yesterday.</p> +<p>“Well it was—something, and then I was +frightened—”</p> +<p>“Stand up a moment.” He helped her to +her feet, then he passed his hand down her +spine and over her hips. “Does it hurt any?” +he asked.</p> +<p>“No, not a real hurt.”</p> +<p>“You fell off of the stoop over there, a boy +said.”</p> +<p>“The baby dropped something and I went +to pick it up, I guess I stumbled. And when +I turned round everything was upside down +and black and I don’t remember any more +until I was over here. Miss Armitage was so +good, is so good.”</p> +<p>“Yes; well it might have been worse. But +I think now you are on the high road to health +again.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_95' name='page_95'></a>95</span></p> +<p>“I’ve never been real sick unless this is it,” +and she gave a vague smile.</p> +<p>“I think it is,” nodding humorously. “The +babies have been rather too much for you +this hot weather. Were you very fond of +them?”</p> +<p>“Well, they were not bad and very funny. +You can’t love bad people.”</p> +<p>“Oh, can’t you?”</p> +<p>“No, you can’t,” with an emphasis. “You +may like them and think they’re pretty and +sweet sometimes, but you don’t truly love +them I mean you wouldn’t choose them if +you had you choice.”</p> +<p>“Which you don’t often have in this world. +Now what would be your choice?”</p> +<p>“Oh, I’d like to stay here. I don’t know +what I’d do if I was Miss Armitage’s bound-out +girl. Jane does everything and—cook +does the meals. She might let me wipe the +dishes. But—maybe you don’t know I’m +bound-out to Mrs. Borden until I’m eighteen, +so I shall have to go back. And the babies +need me. I’m teaching them to talk. I’m +almost Cinderella, not the kitchen kind, +though I wouldn’t mind that with Bridget.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_96' name='page_96'></a>96</span></p> +<p>“I heard you went to the King’s ball with +a fairy godmother. Would you mind telling +me?”</p> +<p>Marilla colored. Yes, she would be quite +pretty if she wasn’t so thin.</p> +<p>“Why it was just a dream. And I was +asleep by the kitchen stove. I hadn’t any +belief in her at first. Oh, do you know anything +about that curious part of your brain +that dreams?”</p> +<p>“No, I do not. I think no one really does. +I suppose you had been reading about Cinderella.”</p> +<p>“I used to read it over to the babies, or tell +them. But there was Red Riding Hood and +Jack and the Beanstalk and Hop o’ My +Thumb. Jack had them all, but I never +dreamed of them. And the babies seemed to +understand them all. They laughed at the +funny places and they looked so shocked at +the dreadful things, and were so pleased when +the old wolf fell down the chimney, dead. +Why it was just delightful to me, only sometimes +I did get tired talking so much and had +to wait for my breath.”</p> +<p>“Are you tired now?” and he listened a +moment to her heart. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_97' name='page_97'></a>97</span></p> +<p>“Oh, no. I feel all good and rested, and +Jane said I ate a nice breakfast. I’m almost +well, though I wouldn’t mind being ill a long, +long while if I could stay here. There was a +little girl once who died and went to heaven. +Miss Florence had the book. That wasn’t any +fairy story, and I think this must be a good +deal like heaven. It’s so quiet with no one +troubling you, and when Miss Armitage +plays––”</p> +<p>Her soft eyes were like wind-blown lakes and +the far-away sight moved him inexpressibly.</p> +<p>“Suppose you tell me about the dream?”</p> +<p>“Oh, you’ll only laugh at me.”</p> +<p>“No, I won’t laugh. I never knew a Cinderella +who went to the palace and danced +with the King’s son.”</p> +<p>He drew her up a little in the bed and placed +the pillows around her. Then he seated himself +on the couch at her feet and smiled so +persuasively that she really couldn’t resist. +She pictured the kitchen and how comfortably +she had settled herself and—she really couldn’t +have been asleep she saw everything so plainly +and, at first, she did not believe the fairy +godmother. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_98' name='page_98'></a>98</span></p> +<p>Dr. Richards was really charmed as she +went on. It was all so vivid, so beautiful. +She appeared to have a better command of +language than most children of her years, +and the whole picture was exquisite. Why, +it seemed very real to him. And her face +was a study. Surely the child must be a +genius, she made the things so real and not +overdrawn. A veritable fairy palace.</p> +<p>Then she drew a long breath and a lovely +smile irradiated her eyes.</p> +<p>“I’m so glad I went,” she said in a satisfied +tone, freighted with a certain joyousness +that appealed to his heart. She really was +transfigured at that moment. What possibilities +were lying in her soul unawakened. +The little bound-out girl would never, could +never realize them alone in her fight with life. +For he had known:</p> +<table style='margin: auto' summary=''><tr><td> +<p style='margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0;'> +“Full many a flower is born to blush unseen<br /> +And waste its sweetness on the desert, air.”</p> +</td></tr></table> +<p>When a helping hand would have transplanted +it into a garden of appreciation. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_99' name='page_99'></a>99</span></p> +<p>A sudden fatherhood stirred within him. +He had thought more than once of the woman +he would like for his wife; now he wanted this +little girl to grow up by his side and bloom +with the sacred joy within her.</p> +<p>“I’m glad, too,” he said in a strange, full +voice that trembled with emotion.</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='CHAPTER_VI_DOCTOR_RICHARDS' id='CHAPTER_VI_DOCTOR_RICHARDS'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER VI</h2> +<h3>DOCTOR RICHARDS</h3> +</div> +<p>Doctor Richards went slowly down stairs, +Miss Armitage let herself in with her latch +key.</p> +<p>“How is my little patient today?” she +asked.</p> +<p>“Stronger in some respects. But I don’t +quite like the heart action. And I’m afraid +I haven’t improved it any.”</p> +<p>“Oh, you did not scold her—?” in a half +upbraiding tone.</p> +<p>“No, no. But I coaxed that dream story +out of her and several other things. In a year +or two more those Borden babies will have her +all worn out. So many of the little Cinderellas +don’t get half a chance with life, the +stolid ones do better. But she could hold an +audience with that story, if she was not +afraid of the audience,” smiling a little, “and +the lovely expressions that flit over her face! +She is not the usual child.”</p> +<p>“I’ve been a little afraid to think that. So +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_101' name='page_101'></a>101</span> +many of the child prodigies flatten out and +make ordinary people.”</p> +<p>“And some of them never get the true +opportunity. I’ve a boy under my observation +who is going to make a first-class surgeon, +and I’m persuading a man to educate +him. His father is going to put him in a +foundry. Think of hands fitted for the nicest +surgery being coarsened by contact with rough +iron and hard tools. He would lose the fine +touch by hard manual labor if he worked for +his education. No one knows all the children +sacrificed to Moloch. But the little girl! +Of course she thinks of going back. She isn’t +even tugging at the chain. But I, for one, +don’t believe God puts people in just the place +He wants them to stay, when He must see +that they can’t work out. Well—did you +get the girls off?”</p> +<p>“Yes, and they were a delighted lot. Three +only are to have their wages paid. Yet an +employer told me about a week ago he had +subscribed twenty-five dollars to one of these +girls’ summer homes. That at four dollars +a week would have paid six girl’s a week’s +wages. His name goes down on the generous +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_102' name='page_102'></a>102</span> +list of course. Oh, I don’t wonder people +like to do the things that show! The things +that only God can know do not come up for +credit. But it is ‘deal justly’ first of all.”</p> +<p>“I’d like to stay and talk—but there is a +serious matter before me. Take good care +of our little girl—but I needn’t charge <i>you</i>. +I’ll be in again tomorrow.”</p> +<p>Miss Armitage went slowly upstairs, paused +a few moments at her desk to jot down some +items. When she went through to the next +room, Marilla was asleep. The little face was +framed in with rings of shining hair, the lips +were palely pink and parted with a half smile, +the skin still showed blue veins. With a +little care, such as rich people gave their +children, she might grow up pretty, she would +always be sweet. And the pudgy babies with +their wondering eyes loved her!</p> +<p>Marilla improved slowly but surely. She +walked from room to room, and one day she +went down stairs to luncheon. Just the small +round table in the recess by the side window +set out with all manner of pretty dishes and +a pretty glass basket of flowers in the center. +And there was Jane to wait upon them, and +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_103' name='page_103'></a>103</span> +she seemed so pleased to have Marilla down +stairs though the little girl had held tight to +the bannister, lest she should lose her balance +and fall. Everything looked so cool and +sweet. The pictures were of woods and lakes, +or a bit of sedgy river. There were fine +sheer draperies at the windows, a tall vase +of flowers on the beautiful centerpiece that +adorned the real dining table.</p> +<p>Oh, how good the delicate asparagus soup +tasted. And the cold chicken, the rice and +the dainty potato cake. Marilla was all +smiles inside, she could feel the quiver. She +had not been waited on this way since the +night in fairy land. Bridget had a way of +shoving things toward you or asking you to +get up and help yourself. But then, Bridget +had done the cooking and was tired, and +Marilla was glad to wait on her.</p> +<p>After the dessert, they went through to the +drawing room and that looked lovely to the +little girl. There was a portfolio of engravings +on a sort of stand, and you could sit +there and turn them over without any effort. +There were so many pretty children among +them, and some of royal families that were +to be kings and queens. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_104' name='page_104'></a>104</span></p> +<p>The postman came and Jane brought in a +handful of letters. Miss Armitage looked +them over casually. Here was one from +Bayside and she opened it.</p> +<p>“My dear Miss Armitage,” it began.</p> +<p>“I don’t know how we can thank you for +taking Marilla in as you did, and by this time +I hope she is about well. Mr. Borden comes +up on Saturday morning to see a client and +will call for Marilla at about two. We +simply can’t do without her. We’ve had the +most awful time! Two babies getting four +teeth apiece are enough to drive one crazy. +There was no trouble about the other teeth, +but I think it would not have been so bad if +we’d had Marilla. They have missed her +and cried after her and no one could get them +asleep until they were fairly worn out and +then they sobbed in the most heartbreaking +way. We’ve had no rest day or night. Ellen +is very good and patient, but the babies +simply won’t let her touch them. Marilla +always knew just what to do. She was so +entertaining. She certainly was born for a +nurse girl, though I thought she was most too +young when I took her, I’ve never let +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_105' name='page_105'></a>105</span> +her lift them, for they’re like a lump of lead. +They have grown thinner and I do hope it +will keep on, unless Marilla makes them laugh +so much they fat up again. They have each +cut two teeth and they had to be lanced. +Sister and I have had an awful time. We +shall be so glad to get Marilla back. I think +Ellen will not be a success as a child’s nurse. +And I can get her a first-class place as a parlor +maid where she can have eighteen dollars +a month, which I couldn’t afford to pay. +There is a cook and a laundress kept, so she +won’t lose by coming down. She is very nice, +pleasant and tidy, and we had to have some +one in the emergency. And poor little Marilla +must have gone to a hospital but for your +kindness. We are all so obliged and if Mr. +Borden can be of service to you, sometime, +he will be very glad. These are the favors +money cannot repay.</p> +<p>“So if you will have Marilla ready about two +o’clock on Saturday, Mr. Borden will call for +her. If she needs a dress will you kindly +purchase it and tell him. We have all her +clothes down here. There is a beautiful big +lawn with hammocks and everything, and +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_106' name='page_106'></a>106</span> +if she is not very strong yet she can have sea +bathing which is splendid, and fine diet. +And we certainly are your deeply grateful +friends. </p> +<p style='margin-left:0.0em; margin-right:0.0em; text-align:right'>“Mrs. Mary Borden.”<br /></p> +<p>Miss Armitage read the letter over twice +and watched the pale little girl enjoying the +pictures. It was not quite a heartless letter +but, it had no special sympathy for the poor +little Cinderella, if she did not have to sit +in the ashes. Then she laid it by and went +at the others.</p> +<p>“Please Miss Armitage, may I go upstairs? +I am so tired. What do you suppose makes +me feel tired so easily?”</p> +<p>“You are not strong yet. Yes, we will go +upstairs and you must lie down.”</p> +<p>She placed her arm around the slender body. +Marilla kissed the white hand.</p> +<p>The doctor came in the next morning, and +Miss Armitage handed him the letter.</p> +<p>“Has the average woman any soul!” he +exclaimed angrily.</p> +<p>“Mrs. Borden has had no means of knowing +how severe the case really was––”</p> +<p>“See here, she might have written on—say +Tuesday and inquired. Why Marilla might +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_107' name='page_107'></a>107</span> +have died with just a little more. She doesn’t +go. She won’t be strong enough to bother +with teething babies in some time yet, if at +all.”</p> +<p>“Oh, you don’t think––”</p> +<p>“She has a weak heart. It may have come +from the shock and there is time enough for +her to outgrow it, with care. Are you going +to tire of her?”</p> +<p>She saw there was no doubt in his face and +smiled.</p> +<p>“Marilla’s no more trouble than a kitten. +Jane is positively in love with her. I’m not +sure but I shall ask to have her transferred +to me.”</p> +<p>“Hilda Armitage you ought to be the mother +of girls. I don’t know about the boys,” with +a doubtful laugh.</p> +<p>“I’ve had two disappointments.”</p> +<p>“I told you that Conklin girl was not worth +the trouble. She’s singing in a vaudeville +show and it <i>does</i> suit her. You couldn’t get +any refined ambition in that vain and silly +brain. It is casting pearls before swine. Save +the pearls for some one worthy. <i>She</i> doesn’t +go back to the Borden’s this summer. When +you get tired of her––” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_108' name='page_108'></a>108</span></p> +<p>“Shall we quarrel about her?” She glanced +up with an odd, humorous smile.</p> +<p>“Perhaps we shall in the end, but that is a +good way off. When that man comes today, +just let him see Marilla.”</p> +<p>Mr. Borden came punctually at two and +was quite profuse in his thanks for Miss +Armitage’s kindness.</p> +<p>“I regret to say that Marilla has progressed +very slowly. She had quite an exhausting +fever at first. She was not able to come downstairs +until yesterday, and lies down several +times through the day.”</p> +<p>“Is it possible! Why we thought—and we +need her so much! Did you—” he flushed +a little, “have a good physician?”</p> +<p>“An excellent one whose practice is mostly +among children. He thought her quite worn +out, but it was being overcome with the heat +and she fell off the steps. It was near congestion +of the brain I believe.”</p> +<p>“I’m awfully sorry. We were so busy just +then, and my wife was worried to death. +The babies had always been so good, but I +can’t imagine anything being so—so dreadful +as they’ve been for a week. I’ve scarcely +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_109' name='page_109'></a>109</span> +slept an hour at a time and Mrs. Borden is +clear worn out. She thinks just the sight +of Marilla would comfort them. We might +go on keeping that Ellen, though the babies +won’t take to her. I think Marilla charmed +them; but they’re always been good until +now. And there’s four more teeth to come +through,” in a despairing sort of tone.</p> +<p>Miss Armitage had large sympathy and she +felt really sorry for him. Yet how providential +that Marilla had missed the care!</p> +<p>“You have had a very bad time, certainly, +and it is fortunate that Marilla didn’t give +out on your hands. Would you like to see +her, though I think she is asleep.”</p> +<p>“Yes—oh yes. If we kept Ellen, don’t +you think she might come down next week. +The sea-bathing would no doubt strengthen +her.”</p> +<p>“She has some heart weakness. I’m afraid +she couldn’t stand the bathing.”</p> +<p>Then she rose and led the way up stairs.</p> +<p>Marilla was asleep. Mr. Borden studied +her in surprise.</p> +<p>“Why, she’s grown dreadfully thin. Yes, +she must have been very ill, but like the babies, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_110' name='page_110'></a>110</span> +she’d always been well. I’m awful sorry. I +don’t know what we shall do. Mrs. Borden +had counted so on her coming. And she said +over half a dozen times that I must not forget +to thank you for all this kindness. You +must send me the doctor’s bill. She’s such a +nice child, Miss Armitage.”</p> +<p>Marilla stirred and opened her eyes, closed +them sighed and opened them again, then +half murmured—“Oh, doctor,” and started.</p> +<p>“Marilla, child, don’t you remember Mr. +Borden?”</p> +<p>“I had not told her about your coming. +We keep her as tranquil as possible.”</p> +<p>“Oh, Mr. Borden!” Marilla sat up. “And +the babies?”</p> +<p>“The babies are in a very poor way, Marilla. +They certainly are homesick for you. +We try to keep them comforted with the +promise of you. Oh, I hoped you would be +well enough to go down with me this afternoon. +Their mother will be telling them you +will surely come. Poor little girl, but you +are going to get well, aren’t you? And Jack +thinks there’s no fun without you, and no +one to read to him or tell him stories.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_111' name='page_111'></a>111</span></p> +<p>The child gave a vague smile. She was +very glad to be away from Jack; indeed, sick +babies did not appear attractive to her just +now, but she said—</p> +<p>“Oh, I’m very sorry. The doctor said it +was the heat and––”</p> +<p>“It was awfully hot that week. That made +the babies worse. Oh, if I could take you +down just to amuse them. You made them +laugh so, Marilla. You know just how to do +it. Well—it can’t be helped, but you must +try to get well and have some good of the +pretty country place. Is there anything I +can do for you?”</p> +<p>“Miss Armitage is so good. And Jane and +the doctor. And the yard is full of flowers. +I’m very happy.”</p> +<p>“I suppose so. Maybe you won’t want to +come back. But you belong to us, you know +and we can’t give you up.”</p> +<p>Then he turned to go.</p> +<p>“Will you kiss the babies for me and tell +them how sorry I am, and ask Jack not to +tease them, and—and—” she swallowed over +a great lump in her throat—“I shall come back +when I get well.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_112' name='page_112'></a>112</span></p> +<p>“That’s a good girl. Good-bye. I shall +be in town next week and will come in and +see you.”</p> +<p>He gave the little hand a clasp. Miss +Armitage went down with him. Marilla +turned her face over on the pillow and cried +as if her heart would break. Could she go +back to the babies and Jack? And Bridget +wasn’t as sweet as Jane, and there was sharp +Aunt Hetty––</p> +<p>“My dear! My dear!” said the soft voice +with its infinite pity, and the sweet lips kissed +hers.</p> +<p>“Oh, Miss Armitage, won’t God take you to +heaven if you pray very hard? I should hate +to leave you and the dear, nice doctor, but +I’m afraid I don’t want to go back to the babies +and Jack. I’m tired of them, and I feel as +if it was foolish to be funny when there are +so many sweet things to think of and books +to read and your beautiful music. But I +must go away from all that, and somehow +heaven looks nicer. And when you die +doesn’t an angel come and take you in his +arms and just carry you up and up to the +other side of the sky where everything is +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_113' name='page_113'></a>113</span> +peace and loveliness, and no one will torment +you––”</p> +<p>“Oh my child, perhaps God wants you to +live here a little longer and do some work for +him. The doctor would be very sorry not +to have you get well. Some one might say—‘He +let that little girl die when he might have +saved her,’ but they wouldn’t know it was +because she kept brooding over it all the time +and would make no effort to get well. God +knows what is best for us.”</p> +<p>“I didn’t mind about going back. But today +it seemed to be—dreadful,” with a convulsive +sob.</p> +<p>“Then we have spoiled you. Oh, I am +sorry for that.”</p> +<p>“Oh, dear Miss Armitage, don’t be sorry +when you have been so good. But I don’t +quite understand how anyone can bind you +out and make you stay years if you didn’t +want to.”</p> +<p>“But children do not know what is best for +them. Some go wandering round the streets +without any home and are picked up and put +in a place almost like a prison where they have +to work whether they like it or not. And some +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_114' name='page_114'></a>114</span> +even have cruel fathers and mothers. You +said the Bordens were good to you. Would +you rather be there or at the Home?”</p> +<p>“Oh, I’d rather be there than at the Home, +but––” and she swallowed hard over a sob.</p> +<p>“If they worked you beyond reason or half +starved you a complaint could be made but +they all seem to love you––”</p> +<p>Miss Armitage smiled with a soft kind of +sadness, as if she wished the truth were not +quite so true, and the things that looked +so delightful were not so often the thing it +was best to give up for honor’s sake.</p> +<p>“Yes, they do love me, babies and all, and +of course I must go back when I am well +enough.”</p> +<p>Then she turned her face away and tried to +keep back the tears. Jane entered at that +moment and the tension was broken.</p> +<p>Miss Armitage read verses to her after she +was in bed that evening, and kissed her good +night with motherly tenderness. Then she +sat for some time and thought.</p> +<p>Why should she have taken a fancy to this +little girl? She had seen prettier children who +were homeless and helped provide for them. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_115' name='page_115'></a>115</span> +The Bordens were not rough or heartless. +Bridget had spoken well of them. The child +had a comfortable home, and she was bound +in honor. It would be mean to entice her +to break the bargain, to make her dissatisfied. +No, she must not do that.</p> +<p>Miss Armitage’s life lines had run along +smoothly through girlhood. Her mother +was a widow and they had a comfortable +income. Hilda had a good voice and sang +in church, gave some music lessons. There +had been a lover and a dear friend and the +old tragedy had occurred, that might have +been more heartbreaking if her mother had +not been taken ill. For days her recovery was +doubtful. Then an uncle at Los Angeles +besought her to come out to that genial clime +and spend her remaining days with him, for +now he was quite alone.</p> +<p>Hilda made all preparations. Such of the +furniture as had intrinsic value was to be +stored with a friend, the rest sold. And then +Mrs. Armitage had an unlooked for relapse +and Hilda went out alone.</p> +<p>Her uncle was a kindly man past middle +life and he took an instant fancy to Hilda. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_116' name='page_116'></a>116</span> +The house and its surroundings were loveliness +itself. Life here would be really enchanting. +It was such a beautiful world.</p> +<p>“But you have not seen half of it yet. +Hilda, what would you say to going abroad? +I’ve wanted to half my life. But my wife, +as you have heard, was an invalid and not +inclined to travel. We lost our two children. +I’m not too old to start out now and view +some things with the eyes of an enthusiastic +young girl.”</p> +<p>So abroad they went. She had seven years +of the richness of the old world, learning +languages, listening to music that stirred +every pulse of her soul, haunting art galleries +with loving companionship that somehow +saw the best and most beautiful in everything +if it was not always high art.</p> +<p>And then she returned alone. It seemed +more of a loss than the death of her mother. +She remained awhile in California settling +up some business and then the longing seized +her to return to the home of her youth, to have +a real home where she could make the center +she was still dreaming of, surround herself +with friends and do something worth while +with her money. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_117' name='page_117'></a>117</span></p> +<p>Newton had changed as well, enlarged its +boundaries and made itself beautiful at the +northern end. The shops and factories were +kept down by the railroad center where +two important lines crossed, and the river +was navigable. Then Main Street was devoted +to really fine stores, Brandon to offices +and men’s businesses, the Postoffice being +there. A handsome library building adorned +Broadway, there were Orphan Homes, an +Old Ladies’ Home, a Social Settlement.</p> +<p>Miss Armitage liked the aspect of it. +Boarding at a hotel for awhile she looked +about and decided on Loraine place. The +houses stood in a row, but they had a pretty +court yard in front, and a real stretch of +ground at the back for grass and flowers and +two fine fruit trees.</p> +<p>Of course old friends sought her out. Perhaps +the fortune helped. The young girls +of her time were matrons with growing children. +How odd it seemed! She thought sometimes +that she felt reprehensibly young, as +if she was having girlhood over again in her +heart, but it was a richer, wiser and more +fervent girlhood, with the added experiences +of the woman. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_118' name='page_118'></a>118</span></p> +<p>There were many things for her to take +an interest in but they finally settled around +the babies and little children’s hospital, and +the Settlement House. In a way, she was +fond of the sweet, helpless babies who seemed +so very dependent on human kindness. If +there was one of her own flesh and blood it +would take possession of her very soul, all +her thoughts, all her affection. But it should +have been hers earlier in life. Now she wanted +companionship. She could not wait for it to +develop and then find unpleasant traits that +had come from alien blood. No, she could +not adopt a baby and wait a dozen years +to know whether it would satisfy or not.</p> +<p>She had helped two or three girls to better +things. One through the last two years of +High School and who was now teaching. And +there had been one with a charming voice +and an attractive face who had been injured +in a mill and who would never have perfect +use of her right hand. If she could be trained +for a singer!</p> +<p>She and Doctor Richards came to words +about her. He said plainly she would not +be worth the money spent upon her. But +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_119' name='page_119'></a>119</span> +Miss Armitage insisted on spending it a year +when the girl threw up her friend and joined +a concert troupe, slipping presently into +vaudeville where she <i>was</i> a success.</p> +<p>And out of the dispute came a proffer of +love and marriage. Alvah Richards had +begun life at the opposite pole from Miss +Armitage. There had been a fortune, a love +for the study of medicine, a degree in Vienna +and one at Paris. Then most of the fortune +had been swept away. He returned to America +and some way drifted to Newton. They +were just starting the hospital and he found +plenty to do. He could live frugally. To +help his still poorer fellow creatures in suffering, +to restore them to strength and teach +them to be useful members of society, or to +comfort them and make the path easier over +the river to the other country; this was his +highest aim.</p> +<p>Miss Armitage was almost dumb with surprise. +She raised her hand in entreaty.</p> +<p>“Oh, don’t! don’t,” she cried. “It is quite +impossible; it cannot be. I like you very +much, but I am not in love. And then––”</p> +<p>“Then what?” with eager eyes and incisive +voice. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_120' name='page_120'></a>120</span></p> +<p>“You had a birthday last week. I heard +you telling it. You are thirty-one.”</p> +<p>“Well—” There was a proud smile on his +manly face.</p> +<p>“And when my birthday comes, I shall be +thirty-six. When you are sixty, rich in experience, +famous, a real man among men, I +shall be quite an old woman. No, I shouldn’t +do it for your sake.”</p> +<p>“As if a few years made any difference! +Why you could discount seven years at least. +Have you been loved so much that you can +throw away a man’s honest, honorable, tender +love that will last all his life, that wear it +as you like, in any stress, you can never wear +out.”</p> +<p>“Oh,” she cried. “You have spoiled a +splendid friendship. I liked you so much, I +have no love to give in return.”</p> +<p>“Then let us be friends again. I would +rather have you for a friend than any other +woman for a wife. I simply will not give you +up.”</p> +<p>So the pendulum went on swinging evenly +between the two points, when Cinderella entered +both lives. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_121' name='page_121'></a>121</span></p> +<p>And now it was Sunday morning and the +chimes were pealing—“Oh, come all ye faithful.” +Marilla listened with a throb of joy, +though she did not know the words they were +saying in sweetest melody. Miss Armitage +came and stood by the cot with a cordial good +morning.</p> +<p>Marilla stretched out her hand and glanced +up with an entreating sort of smile.</p> +<p>“Was I very bad last night?” she asked in +a wistful tone.</p> +<p>“Bad? Why—what was it?”</p> +<p>“I’ve been thinking it over. Oh, I didn’t +want to go back to Mrs. Borden. It is so +lovely and quiet and beautiful here. But it +<i>is</i> right. I am her bound-out girl, and I <i>was</i> +glad to go there. You wouldn’t like me to be +always looking for what was nice and pleasant +and shirking other things, would you?”</p> +<p>“Dear.” She stooped and kissed her. She +had been going over some arguments fitted for +a child’s understanding, and she was afraid +of a rather painful time. And the worst to her +was the fact that she had come to love the +child and really desired her.</p> +<p>“The babies, you know, are so fond of me, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_122' name='page_122'></a>122</span> +and they are all very good. So I wouldn’t have +any reason for not staying with them. And +it will be only five years more, then I shall be +eighteen. And I thought—” flushing daintily, +“that maybe Jane might marry, and you +would want some one in her place and if +it was—me,” rather tremulously—“I could +come—I love you so. I’d be your Cinderella +always. And when I go back it will be like +the King’s ball—I shall keep thinking how +lovely it was for you to bring me here instead +of sending me to a hospital, and it will comfort +me just as the music did.”</p> +<p>Miss Armitage bent over and kissed her +but there were tears in her eyes. She was +touched with the child’s reasoning that was +so like heroism.</p> +<p>“Yes, dear,” she said. “We will think of +it that way. And if you should be ill at any +time, I will have you brought here, and you +shall stop when you take the babies out and +let me see them, and rest a little.”</p> +<p>“Oh that will be just lovely. You are so +good,” and she kissed the white hand lying +on her shoulder.</p> +<p>Then Jane came in and she had her bath. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_123' name='page_123'></a>123</span> +How delightful it was to be rubbed so carefully, +to have her curly mop brushed.</p> +<p>“I ought to dress myself now. Why I’m +not sick at all only I get tired easily, but I +am stronger every day.”</p> +<p>The breakfast was so nice. And to be +waited upon! Marilla gave an inward laugh +of delight.</p> +<p>And while Miss Armitage was at church, +Dr. Richards came and bundled her up, carried +her downstairs and deposited her in the +buggy. He was very merry, somehow. He +was going out in the country and, oh, how +beautiful everything was! There had been a +shower in the night and the air was full of +fragrance from the grass, the pines and +cedars, the orchards, wild flowers, and newly +cut hay, that had not all been gathered in. +Children ran about or swung in hammocks. +Hens were fairly shouting with no regard +for Sunday. Birds were caroling all sorts of +joyous tunes and the tree twigs were gaily +dancing. And here and there such beautiful +drifts went over the sky, ships, she called them. +They were going to fairy land—something +that was not quite heaven, but a lovely place +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_124' name='page_124'></a>124</span> +for all that. There must be so many lovely +places in this great world! Over the ocean +where Miss Armitage had been, and she recalled +the castles and palaces and beautiful +woods, and peasants dancing on the green +and laughing; that she had seen in the portfolio +of engravings. And the legends she +had listened to! Oh, if she could go to school +and learn ever so many things <i>now</i>, for when +she was eighteen she would be too old, and +a kind of perplexity settled in her smooth +forehead.</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='CHAPTER_VII_A_DAY_TO_BE_REMEMBERED' id='CHAPTER_VII_A_DAY_TO_BE_REMEMBERED'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER VII</h2> +<h3>A DAY TO BE REMEMBERED</h3> +</div> +<p>Dr. Richards had been studying the changes +in the child’s face. It was like reading a book, +but it had many variations. Her thoughts +must have traveled far and wide. What were +they?</p> +<p>“Are you very happy?” he asked.</p> +<p>“Happy?” she echoed, wonderingly. “Why +it is a beautiful Sunday. One ought to be +happy—here with you and watching all these +lovely things.”</p> +<p>“Are Sundays happier than any other +days?”</p> +<p>“Well—” slowly. “They ought to be. +It seems as if it was the day of the Sun, and +that’s always glad and merry.”</p> +<p>“But when it rains or is cloudy?”</p> +<p>“Oh, you <i>know</i> it is there, and maybe He +is fighting away the clouds. And He draws +up the water. I read that in a book—and +when He gets enough He lets it fall down as He +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_126' name='page_126'></a>126</span> +did last night and that makes the world so fresh +and sweet. And there are fifty-two Sundays +when you ought not––”</p> +<p>“What?” watching the shadow in her eyes.</p> +<p>“Well, I think you ought not work very +much. I suppose some people have to when +you have meals to get and babies to see to. +I go to Sunday school with Jack and I like +it so much. I’ve learned ever so many of +the songs. But the lessons puzzle me. They +are about God—we had them in the Home, you +know, and God seems so big and strange. Do +you know all about him.”</p> +<p>“No, child, and no one, not even ministers +can know all, so you need not worry about +that. God has the whole world in His +keeping. Don’t you like the week days?”</p> +<p>“Well, they don’t seem to have the same +joy in them, only at Miss Armitage’s every +day seems like Sunday. But I keep counting +them. You see, I’ll be thirteen in September. +Then when we’ve had fifty-two Sundays I’ll +be fourteen and so on, until I am eighteen.”</p> +<p>“And then?” in a sweet kind of tone.</p> +<p>“Why I won’t be bound-out any more. It’s +right for me to stay, <i>she</i> said so, but it would +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_127' name='page_127'></a>127</span> +seem such a long while if I was just counting +the years. And Sunday comes so quick, +most times, and then you can be glad.”</p> +<p>What a touch of philosophy for a child!</p> +<p>“But—they are good to you at Bordens?”</p> +<p>“Oh, yes. I <i>love</i> Bridget, though I was +afraid of her at first. But the grown people +have each other and since I don’t really +belong to them—oh, I can’t explain it,” +and the knot came back to her brow. +“You see when you’re bound-out and going +away for a while they can’t feel the same +to you. They’re never real cross and they +don’t whip you as they did at the Home, and +you have nicer things to eat. Sometimes +when you were awful hungry you didn’t +seem to get enough. You wanted one more +piece of bread, but you couldn’t have it. +Oh, I like it so much better at Mrs. Borden’s +Only Jack—Are boys always bad?”</p> +<p>“I guess they are for the most part,” +laughing.</p> +<p>“But he will go to school again. And his +father says he will outgrow it. His father +truly does want him to be good, and he said +I must tell when he pinched me or kicked me, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_128' name='page_128'></a>128</span> +and he would punish him. But I don’t like +to, always, for he denies it, and his mother +isn’t pleased when I do. You can feel when +people do not like you to tell things. At +the Home when you told tales they whipped +the child that was bad, and then they whipped +you for telling tales. It didn’t seem as if +that was quite fair, so I tried never to tell +on anyone.”</p> +<p>“Generally speaking, it is a bad habit,” +he commented, gravely.</p> +<p>Then they had reached their destination. +A poor old paralyzed man sat in a wheeling +chair on the porch. Medical skill could not +do much for him, but friendship and interest +made pleasant times to remember when the +hours were long and weary. Dr. Richards +had brought some illustrated magazines, and +they talked over the happenings of the week.</p> +<p>A sweet-faced, rather elderly lady brought +Marilla a rocking chair, and asked her if she +was the doctor’s patient. Then she offered +her a piece of cake and a lovely pear, and afterward +took her down to see the flower garden +that was fairly rioting in beauty, and a flock +of snowy white chickens, as well as some fine +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_129' name='page_129'></a>129</span> +pigeons that circled around like swallows. +She was the wife, and there was a daughter +who had gone to church. She talked of Dr. +Richards, how good and comforting he was +to “father.” Marilla thought he must be +good to everybody.</p> +<p>“I’ve had a lovely time with you,” the child +said. Then she shook hands with “father,” +who said—</p> +<p>“I s’pose you’re the doctor’s little girl?” +His mind was not always clear on some points. +“Come again, won’t you?”</p> +<p>She smiled and nodded. “The doctor’s +little girl,” how sweet it sounded! But of +course that could not be.</p> +<p>They had a delightful ride home though it +was growing warmer. How beautiful her +eyes were today—a sort of gray-violet, and +the bronze lashes almost curled. And as he +listened to her soft, flowing voice, he kept +thinking—if he was to marry some one and +have a little girl full of quaint ideas as this +one was! But it would take a long, long +while, and he sighed.</p> +<p>Miss Armitage was sitting by the parlor +window when they returned, and she came to +the door to meet them. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_130' name='page_130'></a>130</span></p> +<p>“I ran away with your little invalid,” +the doctor exclaimed. “Haven’t I brought her +back improved?”</p> +<p>Her cheeks were positively rosy and were +rounded out by the exquisite shading. She +clasped her small arms around Miss Armitage.</p> +<p>“And I’ve had the most splendid time! A +real Sunday. We’ve been out in the beautiful +country where birds were singing hymns and +I’m just full of happiness.”</p> +<p>They had kept their pact, these two people; +they could not have worked together otherwise, +and each one was following the same +path, for the good of the poor of this world.</p> +<p>“I am very glad––”</p> +<p>“Then you are not going to scold me?” with +a questioning smile. “I promised her a +drive you know, and today was rather a +holiday to me.”</p> +<p>“Why, she doesn’t scold,” cried Marilla +in a sort of joyful contradiction.</p> +<p>“Won’t you come in and have some dinner +with us?”</p> +<p>“Pete would grumble if he stood here an +hour. Now, if you would change it to supper—and +a cup of tea––” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_131' name='page_131'></a>131</span></p> +<p>“Let be a cup of tea, then. I want to talk +over some plans.”</p> +<p>“Very well. Expect me on the mark. Six, +isn’t it?”</p> +<p>“Yes,” with a smile.</p> +<p>“Oh, I’m just delighted,” and Marilla +squeezed his hand.</p> +<p>“So you had a lovely time. Where did +you go?”</p> +<p>“Oh—through the park and then out on +such a beautiful road. Things seem nicer +on Sunday, because there isn’t so much noise. +And there was an old man who has to get +about in a chair with little wheels, and can’t +walk any more. And the lady gave me some +cake and such a luscious pear, and asked me to +come again. I just wished that there was +some little girl from the Home living there.”</p> +<p>Marilla had her face and hands washed, +and a fresh white frock put on. She was so +bright and chatty and really charming. But +after dinner she lay in the Morris chair and +Miss Armitage read her to sleep. It seemed +as if she had improved so much in the +twenty-four hours.</p> +<p>They had such a genial and charming +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_132' name='page_132'></a>132</span> +supper, and Miss Armitage played on the +organ afterward and then talked about the +girls who were going to the Rest House next +week. Five of them were very much worn +out. They would need to stay a full fortnight.</p> +<p>“And I think one of them needs some medical +attention. Come to the Settlement and +see her before she starts. And you know +I am booked for that Canadian journey with +the Winslows. I am almost sorry I promised. +Do you think it would be safe to let the +child go to the Bordens on Saturday?”</p> +<p>“You won’t let her go back! She is +worth something better than baby tending.”</p> +<p>“You shouldn’t have cured her up so soon! +I don’t exactly see my way clear or I should +keep her for good and all. I like her very +much. You may laugh at me about my +swans being ordinary geese—but we must +admit the Bordens have the right to her at +present. And I do not want to make bad +friends with them, seeing that in law he may +exact the pound of flesh. They may tire of +her or she may not be able to stand the babies +and Jack. I could leave her here with Jane +or send her to the Home. But she is very +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_133' name='page_133'></a>133</span> +much resigned to the return. She has a +curious bit of conscience about it. So it is +best to let her try again.”</p> +<p>“I can’t bear the thought of it.” He +uttered it with vehemence.</p> +<p>“I don’t like it much myself. But it +seems the only way at present. Bridget will +look out for her. We can’t accuse them of +any cruelty or neglect.”</p> +<p>“And she fairly worships you—fairy godmother.”</p> +<p>“I wish I were. I should change the lot of +more than one Cinderella. Well—we will +wait and see.”</p> +<p>Marilla came in with a bunch of flowers.</p> +<p>“Jane said I might pick them for the +doctor, and the ride was so nice. I shall +put it in among the splendid things of my +life—like the dream, and coming here—and +when I get settled in bed and all is dark I +can make a real fairy land out of it.”</p> +<p>He took her flowers and kissed her, and +said “Good-night” to them in a low tone. +But he went home racking his brains to see +if something could not be done toward keeping +her. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_134' name='page_134'></a>134</span></p> +<p>Bridget came around one afternoon and +was enthusiastic over her improvement.</p> +<p>“They’re doing pretty well and I believe +the twins are not to get any more teeth in a +year or two. And the boss says they’ve +thinned out astonishing, and they can talk +a good bit. And that girl’s going to the other +place and they say you just must come down. +But not a foot should you stir if you wasn’t +real well. An’ its glad enough I am to have +himself at breakfast at the morn and dinner +at night. It’s like living again, but I don’t +want to see any more twins.”</p> +<p>Marilla laughed. “Yes, I feel all well only +sometimes I have a little catch in my breath; +and I’ll be ready to go on Saturday.”</p> +<p>“An’ I’ll just be praying to the saints to +send you back safe and sound. I don’t see +why people should be kitin’ off to strange +places, when they’ve a good, comfortable +house to stay in. But the saints be praised +for the rest with that imp of a Jack being +away! They do be grown up after awhile +an’ I s’pose you couldn’t have men if there +were no boy babies.”</p> +<p>Then Mr. Borden called late one afternoon +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_135' name='page_135'></a>135</span> +and brought a note from his wife. Ellen had +to leave on Saturday or lose the nice place, +and the babies were well now, walking all +round and beginning to say cunning words. +Pansy called “Illa, Illa,” and then looked +around for Marilla to come, and said—“Papa +bing Illa.” They wanted her so much. All +their meals were taken over in the next cottage, +and the laundress came twice a week for +the washings. The children were out of +doors most of the time, and they were on the +ground floor, so there was no going up and +down stairs. Marilla would have it very +easy and they would take the best of care of +her.</p> +<p>Mr. Borden was both kind and gentlemanly. +He hoped there would be some way in which +they could repay Miss Armitage for all +her care. Would she accept a contribution for +the Babies’ Hospital, he had heard she was +interested in, or any other charity?</p> +<p>It was very nice of him, Miss Armitage +thought, and she chose the hospital. Marilla +had been out walking with Jane and when she +came in Mr. Borden was so cordial that it +won the child’s heart, and she was the more +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_136' name='page_136'></a>136</span> +willing to go because she should lose her dear +Miss Armitage for a month.</p> +<p>“And afterward, you must come and see +me and we will have nice times together, and +I may teach you a little music—you learn so +easily. Oh, I count on seeing a good deal of +you.”</p> +<p>The parting was not as bitter as Miss +Armitage had feared, partly because Mr. Borden +was there and in such good spirits, and +Marilla was thinking that the month would +soon pass and that in any event she could +not see her dear fairy godmother in that +time.</p> +<p>The journey interested her very much. +She had never taken so long a ride in the cars. +Mr. Borden bought her a box of marshmallows +and he had some illustrated papers. And +there at the station was Miss Florence who +gave her a cordial welcome, and the big +surrey drove them and three other passengers +to their destination. Mrs. Borden ran down +the path to meet them.</p> +<p>“I’ve been on pins and needles lest something +should happen,” she began. “Why, Marilla, +you don’t look as if you had ever been ill! +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_137' name='page_137'></a>137</span> +And we’re so glad to get you back. Oh, you +don’t know what an awful time I had, and +at first the babies wouldn’t let Ellen touch +them. Flo or I had to feed them. I’m clear +worn out now, but I do hope the babies +haven’t forgotten you, for I want a little +rest. It seemed too bad that you should have +given out just then. And I do believe you’ve +grown taller. Why, you are quite a big girl.”</p> +<p>The twins sat on a blanket on the grassy +space at the side of the house. Mrs. Borden +led the girl out to them with a glad sound +in her voice.</p> +<p>“Here’s your dear Illa come,” she said. +“Dear Illa that you’ve wanted so much.”</p> +<p>Pansy looked up. Marilla gave one spring +and knelt down beside them. It was nice to +be longed for, to be remembered. She had +really loved them. Her heart was always +reaching out for something to love.</p> +<p>“Illa, Illa,” almost shouted Pansy and went +down head first in Marilla’s lap.</p> +<p>“Oh, you darling!”</p> +<p>“I’m glad you didn’t get weaned away, +Marilla. I was afraid you would, having +such a fuss made over you. Mr. Borden said +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_138' name='page_138'></a>138</span> +the house was fine. That Miss Armitage must +be rich. Well—she was very good to you +and did the best she could for us. But that +Ellen didn’t like children, that was the long +and the short of it, and she has just the place +for her, and eighteen dollars a month. Yes, +Violet, this is our own Marilla come back to +us, and we shall never let her go away again.”</p> +<p>Violet had looked rather wary and been +chewing on the end of her thumb, but now +she nodded and began to hitch toward Marilla.</p> +<p>“Now we’re going over to the cottage to +dinner. It’s such a pleasure to go together. +I always take Jack. He has nice table manners +if he isn’t an angel otherwise. Oh, there +he is! Jack, here’s Marilla!”</p> +<p>Jack gave a sort of wild howl of delight and +started on a run with outstretched arms. +Over went Marilla and Pansy and Jack on +the top of the heap. Pansy gave a smothered +scream.</p> +<p>Mrs. Borden caught Jack by the shoulder +and dragged him up. “You bad, bad boy!” +she exclaimed, angrily.</p> +<p>“Hello! what’s the row?” asked Mr. Borden, +advancing to the fray. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_139' name='page_139'></a>139</span></p> +<p>Jack rubbed his eyes to make some tears.</p> +<p>“Well, you said you was glad to see her an’ so +was I. An’ I was jest gone’ to hug her an’ +the bug fell over, an’ I couldn’t help it.”</p> +<p>Mr. Borden laughed. Mrs. Borden picked +up Pansy and comforted her. But she did +howl as if she had been half killed.</p> +<p>“Jack, go to Aunt Florence and be made +ready for dinner,” in a commanding tone. +“Oh dear, it does seem––”</p> +<p>“Well things will go better now,” said +Mr. Borden soothingly. “Marilla, you are +going to be the salvation of the household. +Did the twins really know her?”</p> +<p>“Pansy did, I think Pansy’s really smarter +that Violet, I do hope we’ll have a little comfort +now. There Pansy, dear, go to your +sweet Marilla,” and she stood the child +down. “We must hurry or we will be late +for dinner.”</p> +<p>Marilla saw the four go over to the cottage, +as it was called. She had been tired out +with the railroad journey, entertaining as +it was, then the excitement of meeting them +all again, the bump on her forehead when +she had come down so hard on Pansy’s head, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_140' name='page_140'></a>140</span> +and the screams that seemed like a stab going +from temple to temple tired her inexpressibly. +Then, too, she was hungry. Oh, if she could +have a glass of hot milk such as Jane used to +bring her! She really could not help crying a +little. Both babies stood up by her. Violet +pounding on one shoulder, Pansy making a +grab at her hair that seemed to pull it out by +the roots.</p> +<p>“Pitty, pitty!” she said gleefully.</p> +<p>“Oh, Pansy dear, you hurt.” She disentangled +the one hand, but the other made +the same clutch and was more difficult to +manage. Then she rose to her knees that her +head might be out of reach. Violet came down +heavily and began to cry. Poor Marilla +hardly knew what to do.</p> +<p>The babies were much thinner and their +faces not so pudgy, but Marilla thought they +still resembled the Campbell soup little girl +and laughed in spite of her own hurts. Then +Violet spied a green apple and made a bee +line for it.</p> +<p>“She can’t bite it,” thought Marilla, and +as it kept rolling it amused the baby. Then +Pansy crept toward it and there was a rather +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_141' name='page_141'></a>141</span> +funny time. Violet slapped her twin in the +face and there was another howl and Marilla +went to the rescue. Oh, what should she +do? Everything was so strange!</p> +<p>“Bed’y mik, bed’y mik,” demanded Pansy, +“Bed’y milk.”</p> +<p>“Let us go and find some,” and she raised +the baby to her feet, taking her by the hand. +They walked up on the porch, and she placed +her in the carriage while she glanced at Violet. +Not a moment too soon—the little sharp +teeth were making inroads on the apple. She +ran and snatched it, throwing it out of sight. +There was another howl. Mrs. Borden came +hurrying down.</p> +<p>“What is the matter?” rather crossly.</p> +<p>“Violet found an apple and bit in it; I threw +it away.”</p> +<p>“Oh, that was right Marilla,” in a mollified +tone. “Where’s Pansy?”</p> +<p>“On the porch, in the carriage. I think +she’s hungry. It sounded as if she meant +bread and milk.”</p> +<p>“Yes. They have that for their supper. +I guess I can start it. I used to feed them +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_142' name='page_142'></a>142</span> +first. Let me see. I guess I can show you—you’re +so handy unless they’ve spoiled you.”</p> +<p>She had Violet in her arms and said—“Bring +in Pansy,” leading the way to a room +that seemed a general storage place. She +lighted the little pyro stove, opened a closet +and took out a saucepan, a bottle of milk, a +sugar dish and some spoons.</p> +<p>“Now as soon as it gets warm, you fix it—you +cannot have forgotten how, and then turn +this screw and put the light out. For +heaven’s sake don’t set anything afire! Oh, +there’s no place like your own home. I +haven’t had an hour’s comfort since I came +down here. And my dinner’s getting cold. +Nice baked veal it was, with dressing. There +babies, Marilla will give you some nice bread +and milk.”</p> +<p>She ran off. The babies whined a little and +then watched the proceedings. The stove +stood up on a table and she poured out part +of the milk. Then she gave the babies a +crust of bread to stop their clamoring while +she crumbed up some in the saucepan and +kept stirring it so that it shouldn’t scorch, +taking out part, presently. Pansy climbed +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_143' name='page_143'></a>143</span> +up by a chair and began to call “Bed’y mik, +bed’y mik.”</p> +<p>Marilla put on her bib and began to feed +her. Then Violet joined with her starvation +cry. First it was one open pink mouth then +the other. The viands disappeared as if by +magic. She meant to have a little for herself—she +was so weak and gone in the stomach, +but she found she must make some more, even, +for the babies. So she crumbed up the remainder +of the loaf. How they <i>did</i> eat! +She was very tired of ladling it in each little +mouth.</p> +<p>She had a very little left for herself, but +it seemed to help the desperately tired feeling. +She had put the stove out without any mishap. +Pansy began to cry—“Wock, wock.”</p> +<p>“What is it dear? Was it anything more +to eat?” She glanced through the closet.</p> +<p>“Wock, wock,” hanging to her skirt.</p> +<p>“Me wock,” joined in the chorus that might +be Chinese.</p> +<p>Oh, would they never come! She took the +babies out on the porch. There was a big +rocker. Pansy ran to it and patted it, +rolling up her eyes. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_144' name='page_144'></a>144</span></p> +<p>“Oh, yes, Rock. I might have guessed, but +my head feels so tired and queer.” Then she +took the cushions and blankets out of the +carriage and lifted up Violet, settling her in +one side. But Pansy would have none of it. +She squirmed down on the floor and began +to cry.</p> +<p>“Oh, I don’t know what you want!” +Marilla almost fell into the chair and jogged +it gently. Violet was going to sleep. Poor +Cinderella wiped the tears that would have +run down her cheeks. She was so tired. +Even the babies crying did not move her. +But when she heard the voices she sprang up.</p> +<p>“Oh, what is the matter?” asked Mrs. +Borden.</p> +<p>“They wanted to be rocked,” explained +Marilla, “and I put them both in the chair, +but Pansy wouldn’t stay––”</p> +<p>“We have spoiled them. Ellen used to sit +in the chair and hold them both. That +seemed about the only thing she could do that +would please them. And I’ve held one in the +right and Aunt Florence the other until my +back ached and I was fit to fall to pieces. We’ve +had the most awful time, Flo and I. But I +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_145' name='page_145'></a>145</span> +remember I had a dreadful time cutting +my wisdom teeth, and I was grown. I used +to walk the floor at night, they would swell +up so. We can’t blame the poor babies. +And they missed you so. They used to be so +good, wasn’t they M’rilla; and I suppose +they’ll be good again. They must be undressed +and put to bed. Flo, you look after +Violet, and M’rilla you run over and get +some dinner. You must be most starved.”</p> +<p>Mrs. Borden had picked up Pansy who had +now turned to her comforting thumb.</p> +<p>“Oh, run over. You needn’t be afraid. +Ellen liked the girls first rate. Here, Mr. +Borden will escort you.”</p> +<p>“I expect you’re tired out and homesick,” +he said sympathetically. “But we will have +things better tomorrow. And we are all +so glad to have you—this way. Here, Katie, +give this little girl a good dinner. She deserves +the best you have.”</p> +<p>They were clearing the dining room. One +long table was piled up with the used dishes. +At the other, covered with rather worn enameled +cloth, sat two women and one young +man. Kate made a place for the child and +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_146' name='page_146'></a>146</span> +brought her a plate with most everything +piled on it. Bridget, at home, was so much +neater, but then she didn’t have so many +hungry people to feed. And Jane with her +dainty ways!</p> +<p>Oh, she was just a little bound-out nurse +girl. She had danced and feasted with the +prince; she had been in the palace with the +fairy godmother where she was waited on +as if she were a little lady. And there had been +the Sunday ride with Dr. Richards. Was it +<i>all</i> dreams?</p> +<p>She could not eat. The food was mostly +cold. There was a big lump in her throat and +a heaviness in her heart. How long and +dreary the five years looked!</p> +<p>“I’m not hungry,” and she pushed the +plate away.</p> +<p>“But you’ll have some pudding and some +cream. I told you, Maggie, they’d stuff theirselves +on that there puddin’! You can beat +the band on that.”</p> +<p>“I’ll just have the cream,” the little girl +said, timidly.</p> +<p>“Well you won’t last long to take care of +them there babies if you can’t eat better’n +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_147' name='page_147'></a>147</span> +that!” said Katie. “I never see such squabs +in my life!”</p> +<p>“Oh, Katie, that won’t do. They’re +‘Kate Greenaway’ children. Was she some +one who fatted up young ones? Well, she’d +better let ’em alone to my thinkin’. And their +great round eyes! And the crossest things I +ever did see! Mrs. Munson thought she’d +have to give up t’ other side of the house.”</p> +<p>“Be careful,” cautioned Maggie, with a +slight turn of the head.</p> +<p>Marilla ate her cream, and it really tasted +good. Then she rose and said good-night in a +quiet fashion.</p> +<p>“Katie, you must remember about little +pitchers,” cautioned some one.</p> +<p>“Well—that’s a nice little girl and I don’t +believe she’d carry tales. Ellen said she +wouldn’t take care of those babies for ten +dollars a week. And what’s this child ever +going to do––”</p> +<p>“Mr. Borden is a nice kind of a man and +when he’s around that Jack behaves like a +little gentleman, and the ladies do very well; +they’re pleasant and don’t put on airs. But +what they’ll do with those twins––” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_148' name='page_148'></a>148</span></p> +<p>“Well, they won’t always be getting teeth. +It’s a hard time with babies.”</p> +<p>And so they gossiped while they washed +dishes and set the kitchen in order for morning. +If they had ever been Cinderella they had forgotten +about it.</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='CHAPTER_VIII_A_NEW_GLIMPSE_OF_SERVITUDE' id='CHAPTER_VIII_A_NEW_GLIMPSE_OF_SERVITUDE'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER VIII</h2> +<h3>A NEW GLIMPSE OF SERVITUDE</h3> +</div> +<p>Marilla wandered about a little. The stars +were coming out and afar off the wood robin +was singing his low sweet song. The dew was +scattering the fragrance of flower and shrub +and she drew in long breaths of it that seemed +to revive her. Was Miss Armitage sitting at the +organ and evoking the music that stirred one’s +very being and made you wish unutterable +things? And would Dr. Richards go to comfort +some poor patient tomorrow?</p> +<p>Then she went to her new home. Miss +Florence sat alone on the porch. The babies +were soundly asleep.</p> +<p>“Did you have a nice dinner?” she asked. +“And I suppose you are very tired. Will you +sit here awhile or would you rather go to bed?”</p> +<p>“Yes, I would like to go to bed,” she answered, +wearily.</p> +<p>They went through the place they were +using for a sort of kitchen and up a narrow +stairway. Only part of the room had a fair +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_150' name='page_150'></a>150</span> +ceiling, the rest slanted down to some narrow +windows. There was a cot, an old fashioned +wash stand and a sort of closet. Their packing +trunks were up here.</p> +<p>“Mr. Borden had taken the other part the +house first. There is more room and it is +rather nicer. But the woman who had taken +this wanted so to exchange and made an offer +in the rent and they do charge scandalously +for these summer places. And when you’re +not keeping house it doesn’t matter so much. +It saves lots of trouble. They just give meals +over there and they are first rate. I put your +clothes that we brought in that closet. It +was very nice in Miss Armitage to get you +some others and she wouldn’t let Mr. Borden +pay for them. I want to hear all about her +tomorrow. You won’t feel afraid, will you?”</p> +<p>“Oh no,” was the reply. It didn’t seem to +matter much what happened to her now.</p> +<p>“Good-night, then, I hope you will sleep +well.”</p> +<p>“Good-night,” steadying her tone.</p> +<p>She thought she wouldn’t sleep at all, but +her poor little body was so tired out that exhausted +nature demanded rest. And she was +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_151' name='page_151'></a>151</span> +awakened in the morning with the singing of +some birds, and a beautiful poem floated +through her mind. She would not count any +Sundays until September came in.</p> +<p>Mrs. Borden called her and she replied, dressing +quickly and going down stairs.</p> +<p>“Oh, you look quite rested,” said the lady. +“I’ll give the babies their bath and dress them +and then you will give them their breakfast +and keep them out on the porch while we go +for ours. They take only one nap now, sleeping +from eleven until about two. They just +have bread and milk. There’s a woman here +who says I am ruining their health with that, +because it makes them fat, but they were +fed when they had only milk. Then they +have some oatmeal, jelly and a soft boiled +egg when they wake up. There’s nothing +like system; you know just what to do. Now +you go over to the kitchen and get a bottle +of milk. The babies drink that, too. Then +I’ll show you how to light up the stove. It’s +the handiest little thing. I couldn’t manage +without it.”</p> +<p>Marilla had a pleasant greeting from Katie +who declared, “she looked ten per cent +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_152' name='page_152'></a>152</span> +better and hoped she would have a good +appetite for her breakfast as she didn’t eat +enough to keep a bird alive last night.”</p> +<p>The babies were pretty good natured, as well.</p> +<p>“You know they always were real sweet,” +said their mother, “and so easily amused. I +hope you haven’t forgotten your knack of +story telling; and how they used to laugh! +That Ellen was the stupidest thing.”</p> +<p>While she was feeding the babies, the grown +folks went over to their breakfast. The kitchen +and the servants’ table was in much better +order, and there were some delightful muffins +and fresh fish and muskmelons. The babies +played about; Jack’s father took him out for +a walk, then there was a long quiet time at the +luncheon hour, and the babies were fed +again.</p> +<p>“I succeeded in getting a two-seat carriage, +so we will all go out this afternoon,” said +Mr. Borden. “They say Braun is a queer +Hungarian settlement and on Sunday the +people are all out in their best. We’ll take a +look at it.”</p> +<p>“<i>Can</i> we all go?”</p> +<p>“Why Florence said she wouldn’t mind +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_153' name='page_153'></a>153</span> +caring for one baby, and Marilla can take the +other.”</p> +<p>The two nurses had the back seat, Florence +made Marilla put her baby between them on +the seat. “We’ll change off when I get tired +of holding mine,” she said.</p> +<p>They went straight over to the Sound—the +upper end of the great South Bay. Oh how +splendid it was! Marilla almost held her +breath with surprise, then they drove up the +road a short distance, but she hated to leave +the glorious views. Pansy dropped in her +lap and went to sleep. As they turned they +passed through one of the magnificent residential +settlements, then to the odd Hungarian +town where a foreign Sunday was in full life +and vivacity.</p> +<p>Little tables were standing around, some +filled with families, some having a couple of +lovers; other parties were walking up and down; +all in picturesque holiday attire. The tables +were set out with small, hard brown cakes, slices +of bread that each had brought to the feast. +There was beer of course, merrymaking and +jollity—but no one seemed to overstep the +bounds. Children ran around, grotesque +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_154' name='page_154'></a>154</span> +copies of their elders. Rows of cottages and +gardens, great corn and hayfields, stubble +where cattle were browsing, enclosures of +fattening pigs whose squealing had a mirthful +sound.</p> +<p>“It is well worth looking at,” said Mr. Borden. +“A bit of Europe on one of our islands +and really a lesson to our own thriftless poor.”</p> +<p>Violet chattered in a funny fashion, but +Pansy slept through it all. Marilla tried +several times to shift her position, but the +little form was too heavy to stir. Yet it was +delightful, though she kept thinking of last +Sunday and Dr. Richards.</p> +<p>Mr. Borden stopped at the gate and helped +them out.</p> +<p>“Lift Pansy, she’s asleep,” said Aunt +Florence.</p> +<p>“Oh, Marilla, why didn’t you keep her +awake! I’ve been trying not to let them +sleep in the afternoon so they would go to +bed the earlier.”</p> +<p>“Just as you get a baby in good habits, +someone comes along and spoils it all,” +exclaimed Mrs. Borden in a vexed tone. She +was a little tired, having answered at least +fifty questions for Jack. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_155' name='page_155'></a>155</span></p> +<p>But Pansy woke when her father stood +her down, and said, rather drowsily—“Nice +horsey;” and sat squarely down in the path. +Aunt Florence picked her up and led her to +the porch.</p> +<p>“Now, Marilla, get their suppers ready +and feed them. And put away their things. +I can’t bear to see them lying round on chairs.”</p> +<p>Mr. Borden drove off, taking Jack.</p> +<p>“Ont bedy-milk,” announced Violet.</p> +<p>“Yes, yes; go to Marilla.”</p> +<p>The child had laid the caps in the drawer +and hung up the coats. Both children came +out and clamored for supper and pulled on her +skirt until they almost tipped her over.</p> +<p>Then the great bell clanged for the boarders’ +supper. They had dinner at noon on Sundays. +Mr. Borden returned and escorted +the ladies over. This was always a rather +chatty, long-drawn-out meal.</p> +<p>Marilla fed the babies, washed and put +away her few dishes, then took the children +out on the porch. Violet wanted to be +“wocked,” so she sat beside her in the big +porch chair. Pansy ran up and down uttering +queer unmusical noises. The piano in the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_156' name='page_156'></a>156</span> +other part of the house was accompanying +a singer.</p> +<p>The mistress of that part leaned out of the +window and said in a sharp tone—“Can’t +you keep that child still? She’s an awful +nuisance.”</p> +<p>“Let us go indoors,” said Marilla. “Come, +and I’ll tell you a story about a bunny that +got lost away from all his folks.”</p> +<p>But Pansy had no mind to come. She +screamed when Marilla took hold of her arm +and then kicked, jerking away, she rolled down +the three steps, landing on the grass. Marilla, +frightened, picked her up in her arms and ran +through the hall with her. The suddenness +had really taken the breath out of the little +body for a moment, then she looked rather +wildly at her rescuer.</p> +<p>“It didn’t hurt you much and you were a +naughty baby to run away! Don’t cry any +more and you shall have––” she cast +about to see what solace there was—“oh, +you shall have some sugar—see—” and +she offered her some in a spoon.</p> +<p>Pansy laughed and reached out for the +sugar, quite restored to good humor. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_157' name='page_157'></a>157</span></p> +<p>“Now, I’ll go out and get sister and you +shall have some more sugar.”</p> +<p>Violet came in quite willingly. She sat on +the floor with them and thought of the stories +she used to tell. This one was about a runaway +squirrel. It grew dark and he was afraid, +for he heard a queer noise that kept saying, +“Who—who,” so he ran another way. Then +a dog barked, and Marilla made the sound +of a dog and both babies laughed delightedly. +“So he ran as fast as he could but the dog +ran, too, and the squirrel climbed up in a +tree,” and Marilla climbed with her hands +on the back of the chair in a funny fashion. +“‘Come down,’ said the dog. ‘I won’t,’ said +the squirrel. ‘Then I’ll climb up and eat you.’ +But the squirrel laughed and said: ‘You can’t +climb a tree.’”</p> +<p>The babies laughed, too, but Violet wanted to +be “wocked” again. She really was sleepy. +So Marilla put them both in the rocking chair +and began another story about a bird who had +three little babies in a nest and had to go +out and get them something to eat. The +ladies came back and Violet began to nod +and let her eyes droop. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_158' name='page_158'></a>158</span></p> +<p>“They must go to bed,” said their mother.</p> +<p>It was supposed that Pansy would make +a protest. She slipped down out of the chair +and held out her fat little hand, murmuring—“Illa, +Illa.”</p> +<p>“Well, Illa shall put you to bed, come +Violet.”</p> +<p>Mrs Borden found their nighties. “Me +too,” and Violet took hers over to Marilla.</p> +<p>“Now, isn’t that cunning? Marilla they +are getting back all their old love for you! +But it is time I had a little rest.”</p> +<p>The babies were safely deposited in their +crib, each with a thumb in her mouth, a rather +recent habit. Then they went out on the porch +again. Jack was there with his chum, Stevie. +The ladies joined the procession up and down +the board walk. Stevie was recounting some +wonderful experience, so Marilla dropped into +a chair and her mind went back to last Sunday +night. How long ago it seemed!</p> +<p>Stevie was summoned home by his nurse. +Quite a party went to the kind of sacred +concert. Jack crawled up beside Marilla, for +he was getting sleepy. When she proposed +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_159' name='page_159'></a>159</span> +he should go to bed he turned obstinate and +held on tight to the arm of the chair.</p> +<p>“I won’t go to bed. I’m going to stay here +until mama comes.”</p> +<p>“Oh, you must. The clocks have struck +eight.”</p> +<p>“But I’m not going to.” He caught the +arm of the chair. “You try now and I’ll kick +you with my hind leg.”</p> +<p>She knew well enough that he would kick. +Somehow she did not feel equal to the struggle.</p> +<p>“Tell me a story,” was his next demand. +“About somebody being put in the pit. Sunday +school teacher told it. Why, I’d climb +out.”</p> +<p>So she told him the story and then another, +rocking slowly, and as the demand ceased she +knew he was asleep. But she did not dare try +to get him to bed. So she went to her own +thoughts, the last week passed with the fairy +godmother and Dr. Richards.</p> +<p>It was ten when the family returned.</p> +<p>“Oh, Marilla, how <i>could</i> you let him go to +sleep! He’s so cross when you wake him up.”</p> +<p>“I couldn’t get him to go––” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_160' name='page_160'></a>160</span></p> +<p>“Jack!” His father picked him up and +carried him to the sleeping room.</p> +<p>“Now you run to bed,” said the mistress, +still sharply.</p> +<p>It was very well, Marilla thought, that Jack +had a companion who was not fond of “kids.” +Stevie lived quite a distance below and had +brought no end of playthings, had an auto +wagon that two could sit in, though only +one could be chauffeur. So Marilla had the +babies out on the side lawn all the morning +in the shade, and after their nap took them +out in the carriage. They were quite fond +of walking, too. They really were rather +amiable again.</p> +<p>“Miss Florence, could I have some paper +and a pencil?” she asked during their noontide +nap. “I promised to write to Dr. Richards +and tell him if I kept well.”</p> +<p>“Why not to Miss Armitage?” was the +inquiry.</p> +<p>“She was going to Canada, and—I’m quite +well again, and the babies are so much better. +He will be glad to hear, for he felt very sorry +about them, and he said I must write.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_161' name='page_161'></a>161</span></p> +<p>“I suppose Miss Armitage’s house is very +grand, much finer than ours?”</p> +<p>“It’s beautiful and she has such a lovely +organ. Well, it’s different and there are two +big parlors and some curious things that I +never saw before and chairs in beautiful +light blue, all flowered, and some tall vases +and marble statues. And there’s Jane and +Norah—and the wash goes out. Yes, I suppose +she’s rich.”</p> +<p>“And you’d like to live there?”</p> +<p>“Perhaps she wouldn’t want me,” the child +said simply.</p> +<p>Evidently there had been no talk about it.</p> +<p>Miss Borden gave her pencil and paper.</p> +<p>Marilla went to the kitchen nursery, sat +down on a stool and put her paper on the +bottom of the wooden chair. She began—“Dear +Dr. Richards.” Oh, there was so much +to say! She was well and the babies were +improved and could talk a good deal and looked +better for not being so fat. She really liked +home better and Bridget’s kitchen was so +clean, and there was always a nice white +cloth on the table. It seemed a funny way +to live but many of the people did not have +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_162' name='page_162'></a>162</span> +meals in their own houses, but went over to +the eating place. “I can’t spell the other +word,” she admitted naively. There were so +many pretty girls in lovely frocks who walked +up and down and didn’t have to take care +of babies. “I don’t believe I am as fond of +babies as I used to be. I get tired of having +them every day,” she explained frankly. “And +soon I shall begin to count on the five years.”</p> +<p>She filled up the whole sheet, folded, +slipped it in the envelope and fastened it. +Oh, she must ask for a stamp. She could run +down to the postoffice.</p> +<p>Miss Borden was curious to know what +was in the letter, whether Marilla had found +any fault with her surroundings, but the eager, +honest face disarmed curiosity that could +not be easily gratified. So the letter went its +way.</p> +<p>There were many things to entertain a +child whose former life had been narrow. Some +of the girls spoke to her. “Were the babies +her sisters?”</p> +<p>“Oh, no. She was—well their nurse.”</p> +<p>“How odd they looked! Is that little Jack +their brother?” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_163' name='page_163'></a>163</span></p> +<p>“Yes.” Oh how ardently she wished they +were pretty.</p> +<p>“He looks more like you than like them. +You’ve both got such pretty curly hair, +though his is darker. I think curly hair’s +just lovely. I wish mine curled, and you’ve +such a pretty dimple in your chin.”</p> +<p>Marilla blushed at the praise.</p> +<p>“What are the babies called?”</p> +<p>Marilla repeated their names.</p> +<p>“That’s funny—they’re so much alike.”</p> +<p>“Well—they’re twins,” said another.</p> +<p>Then the babies thought it was time they +joined in the conversation, and a funny mess +they made of it. Pansy said—</p> +<p>“Ont to dit down.”</p> +<p>“No, you can’t,” answered Marilla. “Their +mother said I must never take them out.”</p> +<p>They happened to be strapped in very +securely. But Pansy made a great fuss and +gesticulated furiously with her little fists.</p> +<p>“I had better go on,” said Marilla.</p> +<p>“It’s awfully funny. Does she often get +in such a tantrum?”</p> +<p>“Not very often,” returned Marilla half +ashamed and almost afraid the baby would +break the strap. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_164' name='page_164'></a>164</span></p> +<p>After a few days she began to get quite acquainted +with some of the girls. They came +from various places and were quite ready to +talk about themselves. There was to be a +lawn party next week at the Sheldon’s, just +for the girls, and they were going to dance.</p> +<p>“Oh, did you ever go to a ball?” asked +Marilla.</p> +<p>“Why, girls don’t go to balls! They are +for the big folks. My grown up sister does +and they’re just splendid.”</p> +<p>She had half a mind to tell them about +the beautiful dream and how she had danced +with the Prince. But Pansy was going on at +such a rate that she pushed the carriage along +and by the time they reached home she had +forgotten her trouble.</p> +<p>And there was a letter from Dr. Richards.</p> +<p>She wanted to kiss it, she was so glad, but +Mrs. Borden stood there, so she simply said—“Thank +you,” and opened it.</p> +<p>It was quite to a child’s capacity. Marilla +smiled in some places, looked sad in others. +The little boy who had been so dreadfully +injured by an automobile had died, but he +would have been a terrible cripple if he had +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_165' name='page_165'></a>165</span> +lived. There had been two very hot weeks +and the poor babies had suffered. He was +very glad to hear that the twins were doing +so nicely, and had all their teeth safe and +sound. And was she growing stronger, and +did she have a chance to take the baths +he advised? Miss Armitage was having a +fine time. And a friend was to take them in +his yacht around the islands in the Gulf of +St. Lawrence and come down to Nova Scotia, +so she wouldn’t be home as soon as they expected. +And he was so busy he couldn’t have +any vacation at all; but then he had taken +years before and must be satisfied.</p> +<p>There were bits of fun and queer sayings +interspersed that made a sort of jolliness in +her face.</p> +<p>“Don’t you want to read it?” she asked, +rather timidly.</p> +<p>Mrs. Borden just did. She and Florence +had wondered whether Marilla had made any +invidious comparisons about the change to +actual service instead of being treated as a +guest in a fine house.</p> +<p>“If—you’d like me to,” with the proper +hesitation. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_166' name='page_166'></a>166</span></p> +<p>“Oh, yes. And I used to tell him about the +babies, that they were so good and hardly +ever cried, and how I told them stories and +they laughed just as if they understood—didn’t +they?”</p> +<p>“You <i>made</i> them understand. You’re an +odd little girl, Marilla, and I don’t know +what we would do without you, but then you +do really belong to us. I do suppose the +baths would be a good thing if you were not +afraid. Now, we can’t coax Jack to go in the +water, though he delights to run along the +edge barefooted. That’s fun for the children. +But you see if we all went some one must +look after the children. Then there’s the time +for their nap and there’d be no one to go with +you. There seems so many things to do in the +afternoon now that we have joined the +Clubs. And there’s teas and things––”</p> +<p>“Yes,” Marilla returned, meekly.</p> +<p>“Why wouldn’t you go in the water?” she +asked Jack a few days afterward.</p> +<p>“’Cause there’s sharks. Stevie said so. An’ +they eat up people.”</p> +<p>“Why don’t they eat up—well, they haven’t +eaten up any one yet. We should have heard +of it.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_167' name='page_167'></a>167</span></p> +<p>“They only eat up children. The big folks +kick ’em out of the way. But you’ve got to +be real strong an’ have a big foot. You just +give it to ’em by the side of the jaw and they +flop down in the water. That big Jimmy Lane +has seen them lots of times.”</p> +<p>There was a great sand heap where the +smaller children went to play and tumble +about and build forts and ovens and sometimes +sand each other. Marilla took the babies +out in the carriage after they had their dinner +and were dressed afresh. Sometimes she met +the girls sauntering about, sometimes with the +nurse maids. The two ladies went to a +Whist Club, and one afternoon played Bridge, +and between times they met on each others’ +porches.</p> +<p>The afternoon of the children’s lawn party +the street was fairly thronged. There were +grown people within the enclosure by special +invitation. And how pretty the young people +were in their beautiful summer attire with +laces and ribbons and bead chains and white +ties with a great bow almost as big as the foot.</p> +<p>There were four pieces of music. Oh, the +dancing was just bewitching? Marilla drew +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_168' name='page_168'></a>168</span> +long breaths and wished she was among them; +every pulse in her body kept time. The trees +waved and nodded, some birds sang and there +were sounds of happy laughter.</p> +<p>“Get away from here with this big caboose +of yourn!” said a rough voice, “you take up +too much room,” and he wheeled the carriage +around so suddenly the babies almost toppled +over. “Other people want a chance. Get +along, I say!”</p> +<p>She had no choice but to go on.</p> +<p>“I’m glad he sent off that nurse girl,” exclaimed +a woman with two children clinging +to her skirts. “Those great wagons are such +a nuisance!”</p> +<p>Marilla crossed the street and went slowly +up and down. When the throng moved about +a little she could see the white fairy figures +floating over the greensward, and hear the +music that set one’s nerves a-tingle. The +outside crowd began to disperse, but the man +loitered about, so she did not dare go back.</p> +<p>Then they brought out some tables on the +lawn and began to arrange them. Oh, how +daintily pretty it was! She recognized some +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_169' name='page_169'></a>169</span> +of the girls, and in spite of her courage, +sighed as she turned away.</p> +<p>Those were the sisters for whom the coach +and four waited, with the footman and +outriders, and who would be made welcome +at all the grand functions of life, while the +Cinderellas were relegated to the chimney +corner. And the godmother must come out of +fairy land, if she came at all, and transformed +one with a wand. That was why the glories +were so unsubstantial, and why the dream +must end at midnight.</p> +<p>The babies were clamoring for supper. +The house was all alone. She lifted them out +and helped them up the steps, then gave them +each a biscuit while she prepared their bread +and milk. The ladies came home from their +Whist. Mrs. Borden had won the first prize +and they were talking as eagerly as boys over +a baseball score. There was Jack, dirty and +tousled as any tramp.</p> +<p>“Wash him up Marilla and put him in some +clean clothes or we’ll be late for dinner. +Come, be quick, child.”</p> +<p>That was the portion of the Cinderellas.</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='CHAPTER_IX_THE_LITTLE_THORNS' id='CHAPTER_IX_THE_LITTLE_THORNS'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER IX</h2> +<h3>THE LITTLE THORNS</h3> +</div> +<p>They were all very glad to be home again. +The house was so clean and orderly and there +were so many closets and drawers in which +to pack away things. Bridget had scoured +and scrubbed and polished windows largely to +pass away time, for the people next door had +been away as well and the maids on a vacation +earning money at seasides.</p> +<p>“Oh, I’m so glad to see you again!”</p> +<p>Marilla was hugging Bridget and her tone +was full of delight.</p> +<p>“Ah, dear, an’ it’s glad enough I am to get +ye back, but you’ve not grown very fat an’ +rugged looking, but them babies do beat all! +They’re quite ginteel one may say, an how they +do run and talk! You’ll have your hands full, +I’m thinkin’, if they’re goin’ to copy Jack!”</p> +<p>“Oh, Bridget, they’re real sweet, only +they’re noisy when your head’s tired. It +sounds worse indoors. There was a big out +of doors and grass, and people passing and +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_171' name='page_171'></a>171</span> +some children came in to play. But now you +have to look after them all the time.”</p> +<p>“Marilla! Marilla!”</p> +<p>No, she could not waste her time in the +chimney corner.</p> +<p>“Put on the babies’ things and take them +out walking, they’ll drive me crazy.”</p> +<p>She walked them round to Loraine place. +Would she dare call? Oh, how her heart +yearned to see them all again! but the blinds +were drawn; perhaps no one was at home.</p> +<p>Then as they were going down the street, +just at the corner, a lady and two girls about +her size crossed. The lady and one of them +lived about a block further down Arch street. +The other she had known at the seaside. +She smiled with a sudden pleasant surprise. +The girl simply stared. Marilla’s face was +scarlet. Was it possible she was not to know +any of these girls if she should meet them? +This one did not live here, she knew that.</p> +<p>Then Aunt Hetty came home looking thinner +and more dried up than ever, but glad to +get back to her room. She would not come +down to dinner but M’rilla could bring her +up some toast and tea. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_172' name='page_172'></a>172</span></p> +<p>So instead of having a cozy time with +Bridget she carried the small waiter up stairs. +The tea was in the pot; Aunt Hetty had the +kettle boiling on the gas stove. The toast +was on a hot plate.</p> +<p>“Sit down a minute, I’ve hardly seen you. +Did you have a nice time? I suppose the +twins will be on the everlasting trot, now they +can walk so well, and as for talking—well I’m +glad I don’t have to live with them; that I’m +clear this end of the house. You see that they +don’t come up stairs. It’s nice to be in your +own place, though the folks where I staid were +very good and pleasant, I s’pose they thought +I might remember them in my will,” and she +gave a shrill sort of cackle. “Now I tell you +there isn’t much fun in living to be old, and I +seem to have lost my spunk. It’s just a kind +of drowsing life away. Now tell me what you +did! My, but this toast tastes good! Better +than all their flummery.”</p> +<p>“Oh, there were a good many nice things +and pretty houses and gay people, and a big +place where they all went to meals. And Jack +is better than he used to be, he had the nicest +little playmate and was out of the house most +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_173' name='page_173'></a>173</span> +of the time. But I must run down, for Bridget +said my dinner was ready. I’ll come up again +when the babies are in bed; can I bring you +anything?”</p> +<p>“Well, yes, a glass of hot milk. No, bring +it in a cup with a handle—it is so much nicer +to hold. You’re a good willing girl, Marilla.”</p> +<p>“I thought you never would get down,” +Bridget said, almost crossly. “If you have to +wait on that old woman and all the rest of us +you’ll wish you were in the grave. My! You +look all tired out. Now, here’s a nice bit of +chicken that I laid aside for you. I’m not +goin’ to have you fed on leavings. And it +wasn’t nice down there?” nodding her head.</p> +<p>“Oh, Bridget, such a kitchen and such a table, +and no white cloth on it! They, the servants +didn’t seem to care, and they were nice and +clean at the Home, and you’re—well, you have +things as nice as in the dining room, and to +have things shoveled out of the kettle on your +plate or cold on a dish! Sometimes puddings +were good, and the creams and frozen +things were clean and nice. But I’m so glad +to get back to you. And the lovely bath +room! We didn’t have any in the cottage. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_174' name='page_174'></a>174</span> +Why it saves half the work taking care of +babies.”</p> +<p>“You bet it does, I couldn’t and wouldn’t +live in such a muxy kitchen. If I couldn’t +have things to suit I’d take French leave, +though I guess I’d call it Irish leave. And +people, women, think it a fine thing to go off +and live that way. But the boss got very +tired of it.”</p> +<p>Marilla laughed faintly. She was almost +too tired to eat, but the chicken was so tasty, +and the fresh home-made bread delightful. +And the cheery voice put heart in the girl. +Then the dessert was delicious.</p> +<p>“I promised to take Aunt Hetty a cup of +milk. I’ll see first if Mrs. Borden wants me. +But I’ll dry the dishes for you.”</p> +<p>“No, dear, I did the most of them while you +were up stairs.”</p> +<p>The babies had been put to bed. They did +have an unlimited capacity for sleep, now that +they were well. Jack was perched on his +father’s knee detailing some wonderful adventures. +No, they did not need her.</p> +<p>“I’m going in next door awhile,” said +Bridget on her return. “Mrs. Dawson’s girl +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_175' name='page_175'></a>175</span> +left in a huff, and she asked me if I knew anyone. +And there was my friend, Maggie Brady, +just out of a place and a nice tidy girl; a good +cook, too. So they both suited. Maggie’s +mother and mine lived in the same town. +It’s nice to have a friend at hand. And when +ye’s through with the old lady I’d run to bed. +You look tired as a wagon wheel that’s run +round and round.”</p> +<p>Marilla laughed and took a bottle of milk +with her. Aunt Hetty drank a good cupful, +hot, and the remainder was set out on the +window sill. Then she settled herself in bed +with two pillows under her head; she could +hear better she thought.</p> +<p>“Now, you open that book at the mark and +read to me. ’Twon’t be very interesting, for +you can’t know what’s gone before. And no +doubt I’ll fall asleep—I always snore a little +at first, and when you hear that you may light +the burner in the other room and turn it very +low and put the window down from the top +and skip off to yourself.”</p> +<p>She was very tired but she read quite +awhile before the gentle snoring began, and +she was glad enough to go to bed. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_176' name='page_176'></a>176</span></p> +<p>They had been home just a week when +school opened. It was a comfort to get rid of +Jack. They began to settle into quite regular +living.</p> +<p>“I’ve just had a fright,” said Mrs. Borden, +coming up to her sister’s room. “A man has +been here inquiring about school children and +I <i>did</i> stretch the truth a little. You see, now +children have to go to school until they are +fourteen. I simply can’t let Marilla go. I +didn’t adopt her nor consider her in any sense +my own. A child like that isn’t worth more +than her board and clothes. What good +would she be to us if we had to get her off at +nine in the morning, and then have only an +hour in the afternoon. The twins <i>must</i> be +taken out, and there’s so much running up and +down. She’s a nice honest, truthful child and +a born nurse girl. But if I had to send her to +school, I’d trot her off to the Home.”</p> +<p>“There is so much to do this winter. When +you come to that, she knows enough for ordinary, +and later on she could go to evening +school. There’s so much shopping and planning, +and we must be out a good deal. The +twins mightn’t take to a new girl. Let us keep +her if we possibly can.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_177' name='page_177'></a>177</span></p> +<p>Miss Borden’s lover was to return before +Christmas and wanted every thing ready for a +speedy marriage. It would be in church with +a very small reception afterward. And that +was hardly three months’ distance.</p> +<p>Marilla was coming home with the babies +one afternoon when two lady callers and a +girl were saying adieu and coming down the +steps. Yes, that was Ada Brant who had been +at Bayside in the summer and at first had +been quite friendly with her. Now she looked +as if she had never known her.</p> +<p>Maybe that was the way all the girls would +feel to one who had been bound-out from an +institution. There they had all been on an +equality. And somehow the Bordens had not +really put her down. Then that lovely Miss +Armitage. Why, there had been a place for +her at the table, and Jane had waited on her as +if she had been a guest!</p> +<p>Perhaps it would be different now. Then +came a very bitter knowledge to Marilla +Bond. Five years more of this, and wouldn’t +people remember she had been Mrs. Borden’s +nursemaid? Why, even now she would be +glad to be Miss Armitage’s maid. What made +the difference? +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_178' name='page_178'></a>178</span></p> +<p>She was to hear more of it that evening. +After the babies came in from their outing +they were washed, undressed, and a nice warm +wrapper put over their nightgown, and then +fed. Afterward laid in their crib. They +didn’t go to sleep at once but kicked and laughed +and chatted in a regular frolic. Phlegmatic +babies can be easily trained. Then +Marilla came down and waited on the table as +Bridget sent various things up on the lift. +She was a really charming little waitress.</p> +<p>“Such an odd thing occurred today,” began +Mrs. Borden. “John do you know a firm, +Davis & Calthorpe, who manufacture something—”</p> +<p>“Yes, Calthorpe is selling out, I drew up +some papers for him. He’s been up in the +Adirondacks all summer and is going to +Bermuda; but he will never come back alive.”</p> +<p>“How queer it all is! We met Mrs. Brant +a few times at Bayside. They have come to +Newton to look into the business and are +staying with Mrs. Wheeler. They came to +call and Mrs. Brant has a pretty, stylish young +daughter. Of course they’ll have to move here. +She is quite taken with Newton. I told them +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_179' name='page_179'></a>179</span> +about that Jamreth house down the street and +they decided to look at it. Of course I didn’t +get much acquainted with her, but she seems +a very nice body. And that’s a promising +business, but Calthorpe had to give it up and +I’m sorry for the poor fellow; glad, too, that he +met with this chance of disposing of his share. +Brant appears to be a nice, brisk fellow and it +is lucky for Davis as well.”</p> +<p>The Jamreth house had stood empty all +summer. Marilla passed it on her way to the +park, for Arch street led direct. Suppose Ada +was there sitting on the stoop or at the window +and giving her that indifferent stare when they +had been quite acquaintances!</p> +<p>For the first time fairy land and her dancing +with the Prince failed to comfort. The whole +world seemed changed, and how would Miss +Armitage be, now that she was well?</p> +<p>But she was very, very busy; Jack went to +school a week and was delighted with the +boys.</p> +<p>“Sam Gordon has a little brother just big +enough to begin school. I wish one of the +twins was a boy. What’s the use of so many +girls?” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_180' name='page_180'></a>180</span></p> +<p>His father laughed a little at that. The +second week the charm began to fail. His +head ached and he wanted to stay at home and +have Marilla read to him.</p> +<p>“Boys don’t have headaches,” said his +mother. But he was cross and his face flushed +up so that in the afternoon his teacher sent +him home. “And I don’t want this scratchy +flannel on! I like the other better; can’t I +pull it off?”</p> +<p>“The others are worn out, and it is coming +cooler weather. Oh, you’ll get used to it,” +said his mother, teasingly.</p> +<p>Then he kicked the babies’ playthings +about and pinched Marilla’s arm and wouldn’t +eat any dinner, and said his pudding was bitter. +His father sent him to bed, but he tossed and +tumbled and cried out for a drink ever so +many times, and in the morning was red with a +fever and some sort of eruption. So they +sent for Dr. Baker, who pronounced it a fine +case of measles.</p> +<p>“I don’t see where he caught it, unless it is +in the school, and I suppose the twins will have +it,” said Mrs. Borden in despair.</p> +<p>There were three pretty bad days and Jack +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_181' name='page_181'></a>181</span> +tried the patience of the whole household +sorely. Then the babies showed symptoms +and seemed vexed that such a thing should +happen to them, and now school was not to be +thought of in some time.</p> +<p>“Run out and take a little airing, Marilla,” +said Mrs. Borden, late one afternoon. “You +haven’t been out of the house for days.”</p> +<p>She was very glad to go. Jack was still a +recluse though he seemed well.</p> +<p>Which way should she go? Her heart cried +softly for Loraine place and almost unconsciously +her feet turned thitherward. Miss +Armitage sat by the window but she sprang up +and opened the hall door with, “My dear, +dear child!”</p> +<p>Marilla had her face in a transport of happy +crying, from an overweighted heart.</p> +<p>“Oh, my dear!” leading her in.</p> +<p>“Oh, Miss Armitage, we have the measles +round at our house. Perhaps I oughtn’t come +in.”</p> +<p>“Oh, I had the measles long ago, and I’ve +seen three cases this afternoon. I’ve only +been home four days and had the most splendid +time. But I want to hear about you—have +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_182' name='page_182'></a>182</span> +you been well, and was it nice at the seaside? +Why it seems like a year since we parted.”</p> +<p>“Yes, I was well and the babies walk and +talk and are real cunning and they do grow +prettier. They’re getting some real nice hair +but I can’t make it curl. I didn’t like the +house so well and there was no bath only a cold +water faucet and a gas stove, and I missed +Bridget so much. We staid out of doors most +of the time. I didn’t go in bathing—I was a +little afraid, I think, and I would have had to +go with some of the servants. There were a +good many of them—we took our meals outside. +I was glad to get home, and oh, so glad +to see you!”</p> +<p>She caught the hand and kissed it rapturously. +Miss Armitage held up the face with +her hand under the chin.</p> +<p>“No, you haven’t gained any.”</p> +<p>“I think I did at first, but Jack was so +troublesome, and the old lady, Aunt Hetty, +wants one to read her to sleep and sometimes +it takes so long.”</p> +<p>“You surely are not helping with her?”</p> +<p>“Oh, only reading and answering her bell. +She’s somehow so nice when you wait on her. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_183' name='page_183'></a>183</span> +I think, like the rest of us, she’s so glad to be +back. One day she gave me a dollar and said +I must spend it for candy, but I haven’t yet. +Do you think I ought to have told Mrs. +Borden?”</p> +<p>“Why, not necessarily.”</p> +<p>“I’m not so very fond of candy. There’s a +beautiful book of fairy stories in a store down +town that I’d like. Only Jack takes every +thing, and he keeps asking if I haven’t a penny +when we go out. His mother doesn’t give +him pennies to spend, and a very good thing, +too.”</p> +<p>“What kind of books do you read to the old +lady?”</p> +<p>“Well, you see it’s this way, she reads on +pages and pages and puts in a mark, then I go +on where she left off and so I don’t get the real +sense of the story. They seem to have a good +deal of trouble. I’d rather read about little +girls who went to their grandmother’s and had +nice times, and beautiful verses full of music +such as you used to read.”</p> +<p>Miss Armitage laughed pleasantly. “We’ll +have some nice reading again. And you +ought to go to school.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_184' name='page_184'></a>184</span></p> +<p>“But you see I can’t. I look over Jack’s +books and I write on pieces of paper. I don’t +know how to spell all the words. Oh, I wrote a +letter to Dr. Richards. He asked me to, and +he sent such a nice answer. I did want to +write again, but I hadn’t any paper nor +postage stamp, and I didn’t like to ask the +second time. Oh, I might buy some with my +dollar, mightn’t I?”</p> +<p>“I’ll do you up a little package. He wants +to see you, so I’ll ask him to come here and let +you know. And sometimes when you are out +with the babies you must stop here and let +me see them, and I’ll call and see you all.”</p> +<p>“Oh, how nice that will be. I’m so glad you +love me. For I never shall be like the girls +who have pretty homes and parents to love +them. But you’ll be the fairy godmother always, +won’t you?”</p> +<p>“Yes, dear,” in a soft tone.</p> +<p>“And now I must go. It’s so sweet to know +that some one really loves you even if you are +a bound-out girl. And now I’m beginning to +count the years.”</p> +<p>Miss Armitage kissed her and watched her +tripping down the steps. She was worthy of a +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_185' name='page_185'></a>185</span> +better fate. Would she love the hand that +set her in pleasanter places and not come to +think wholly of self? For she, woman past +thirty, as she was, longed for a little daughter’s +love, a daughter to grow up along side of her, +to share her very life.</p> +<p>The babies went out walking up and down +the block one day and took no harm. Violet +was wild to run away, as Jack had been, and +so was quite a care. Then the men came to +fumigate the house and they all went to a +friend’s and took lunch.</p> +<p>“Dear me, what a nice little maid you have,” +said the friend. “She seems to know just +what to do, and she’s so pleasant tempered. +Where did you find her?”</p> +<p>“She came from Bethany Home and she’s +bound to me until she’s eighteen. She’ll be of +good service.”</p> +<p>The Autumn was glorious with a good deal +of sunshine; Jack went back to school and was +getting to be a regular boy, full of pranks; they +were sometimes rather rough. He did stand +in awe of his father, but he occasionally said +things to Marilla that were not a bit nice, then +he would coax her not to tell of them. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_186' name='page_186'></a>186</span></p> +<p>One afternoon Miss Armitage came. Bridget +said she was sorry the ladies were out but +the visitor said she wanted to see Marilla and +the babies and went up stairs to the nursery. +Playthings were all about; Marilla had been +building houses for the twins to knock down. +They glanced at Miss Armitage with wondering +eyes, but they said “down, down” when +Marilla took to a chair. Then they tumbled +over her and buried their hands in her curly +hair, even if it pulled. They showed they +owned her, and it really was not an easy lot for +the little girl. She did look pale and tired but +she was so glad to see her friend.</p> +<p>Then the lady began to plan if there was any +way to get her free. She went to see Mrs. +Johnson.</p> +<p>“Why the child seems very well off,” was +the rather tart reply. “She is well fed and +clothed and has nothing to do but amuse two +little ones. Many a girl would jump at the +place. It wouldn’t do for us to be changing +them about, you see. We do sometimes take +away a child who is ill treated. I’ve visited +this Mrs. Borden several times and found +things very satisfactory.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_187' name='page_187'></a>187</span></p> +<p>“But she could be educated—”</p> +<p>“My dear lady, there are hundreds of these +poor children who need a good home and to +be fitted for their station in life which cannot +be a very high one. Their heads must not be +filled with dreams of wonderful fortunes. +Real work is and must be the lot of those +who are homeless and dependent. Now, if <i>you</i> +wanted to adopt some child I have two lovely +little girls here, one of them born to luxury it +would seem, but misfortune and death made +a waif of her. I do hope some well-to-do people +will take a fancy to her.”</p> +<p>No, she didn’t want any stranger. She +would wait and see. Why should she care so +much for Marilla? The faint little voice +haunted her—“Are you a fairy godmother?”</p> +<p>The Bordens were really disappointed when +they found they had missed Miss Armitage. +Then a dressmaker was to come, and friends +were dropping in. Unless they shut the +nursery door the little girls were in everything, +and then they fairly howled for mama.</p> +<p>“Oh, Marilla, can’t you keep those children +entertained? It sounds as if they were getting +murdered. Put on their things and take them +out.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_188' name='page_188'></a>188</span></p> +<p>Then one night Pansy had the croup and +there was a great scare.</p> +<p>“You’ve let her get cold some way, Marilla; +you mustn’t let the wagon stand while +you keep looking at books and pictures in +store windows. You better go straight over +to the park, and don’t talk to other girls. +You’re old enough now to have a little judgment.”</p> +<p>Marilla made the babies ready. They were +very fond of walking up and down stairs. +Now she lifted them in the carriage, tucked +them in with the pretty robe and they did +look picturesque in their fluffy white hoods +and fur cloaks. They uttered shrieks of delight +as they went along. The Brant’s were +moving in the Jamreth house; she would +remember hereafter to turn off at State street +and not pass it. Somehow she felt very tired. +At times there was such a fluttering somewhere +inside of her that for a moment things +went round and she had to gasp for breath. +She would like to tell Dr. Richards about it. +She had seen him twice, both times in the +street and it had kept her happy for days.</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='CHAPTER_X_ON_THE_BORDER_OF_TRAGEDY' id='CHAPTER_X_ON_THE_BORDER_OF_TRAGEDY'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER X</h2> +<h3>ON THE BORDER OF TRAGEDY</h3> +</div> +<p>For two days Jack had been out of school +with a sore throat. Today it was better. The +ladies wanted to go out to match some trimming +and view some elegant new party frocks +that might do for a wedding gown.</p> +<p>“Now don’t tear the house down while we +are gone. And if you are good Jack, I’ll bring +you home that new top you wanted. Remember +the noise disturbs Aunt Hetty.”</p> +<p>But the children enjoyed the noise. Aunt +Hetty’s bell rang.</p> +<p>“Oh, Marilla, can’t you keep those children +in a little better order,” said the fretful voice. +“And get me a drink of cold tea, I feel so +queer.”</p> +<p>“I’m so sorry,” answered the child, “I’ll +try my best. If only Jack wasn’t home.”</p> +<p>Jack was throwing the ball at the babies +who made vague efforts to catch it.</p> +<p>“I’m so afraid you’ll hurt them.”</p> +<p>“Oh, you old fraid cat! You can’t let a +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_190' name='page_190'></a>190</span> +fellow have any fun! I’ll give it to you.”</p> +<p>It was not a heavy ball but he sent it with +all his angry might. It struck against her +heart and she went down in a little heap.</p> +<p>“I fixed you that time! Come, you can’t +play possum over me, get up!”</p> +<p>He touched her with his foot. Pansy ran +and fell over her.</p> +<p>“Get up, you little clumsy skunk! You’ll +half kill her!”</p> +<p>“Poor Illa. Det up, Illa. Did bad Jack +hurt ’ou?”</p> +<p>Jack turned her partly over. Her face was +ghastly, with the eyes rolled up.</p> +<p>Aunt Hetty’s bell rang. Jack ran down +stairs.</p> +<p>“O, come up Bridget, Marilla’s killed!”</p> +<p>“Ah, now you want to frighten a body out +of her wits! You ought to be skinned alive.”</p> +<p>“Oh, come quick!” Jack began to cry.</p> +<p>Bridget walked up stairs very deliberately, +“Oh, Holy Mother of God! Get up, children. +Marilla, dear—Oh, what have you done to +her?”</p> +<p>She took the limp figure in her arms.</p> +<p>“Oh, me darlint! Wurra! wurra! And +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_191' name='page_191'></a>191</span> +that bell! As if no one wanted anything but +that old body with one foot in the grave. Jack +run in next door and ask Mrs. Seymour to +come at once; quick, or I’ll bat you with a +stick.”</p> +<p>Then she went up stairs. The poor old +body was lying in the reclining chair, her face +distraught with fright.</p> +<p>“Send for the doctor at once, something has +happened to me, I can’t stir. My legs are +heavy as lead. Where’s Marilla? I’ve rung +and rung!”</p> +<p>“Marilla’s fainted dead away. Yes, I’ll get +the doctor,” and down Bridget flew to open +the front door.</p> +<p>“Oh for the love of heaven, will you come +and talk to that thing in the wall an’ get the +doctor! Why, I’m most crazy.”</p> +<p>“Yes, what doctor?” Mrs. Seymour went to +the telephone.</p> +<p>“Doctor Baker, and then to Miss Armitage +in Loraine place.”</p> +<p>“Dr. Baker would come at once.”</p> +<p>They found the lady’s number. She was +just going out but would stop there first.</p> +<p>Then she took Mrs. Seymour through to the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_192' name='page_192'></a>192</span> +nursery. The children were patting and petting +Marilla.</p> +<p>“Get away, children, you’ve had her smothered.”</p> +<p>“Does she faint often? She seems so well +and merry.”</p> +<p>“She did that time last summer. She was +out with the babies and fell off of a stoop, I +believe, an’ she kept looking like a ghost for +ever so long. That Miss Armitage took her +to her house an’ took care of her. She’s a +good woman, that she is. An’ it’s just my +belief that Marilla isn’t strong enough for +the rough an’ tumble of life. Some ain’t +you know, an’ she’s tugged these fat babies +about often; there isn’t but one nurse kept.”</p> +<p>“Oh, they were too heavy for her to lift.”</p> +<p>“Mrs. Borden didn’t want her to, much. +I’ll say that for her. She was afraid the babies +backs might get out of shape some way by a +bad fall. She’s a fair dealin’ woman or I +wouldn’t have staid with her all these years. +But Marilla isn’t strong enough for the work, +and the old Aunt wants a good deal of waiting +on. It’s run up an’ down until you’d think +her legs would just fall out.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_193' name='page_193'></a>193</span></p> +<p>Mrs. Seymour had been trying various +restoratives. Now Marilla gave a long shuddering +sigh, opened her eyes but closed them +again.</p> +<p>“What beautiful long lashes she has! And +such silky hair—”</p> +<p>“Oh, the saints be praised! I began to +think she was dead! Poor darlint! ’Rilla +dear—its Bridget who’d do anything in the +world for you.”</p> +<p>Dr. Baker arrived. He entered the room, +looked at Marilla, felt of her pulse, and listened +to the faint heart beats. “Give her a little +brandy,” he said. “Where’s Mrs. Borden? +I thought the old lady—”</p> +<p>“Oh, she is!” interrupted Bridget, “she can’t +stir her legs one bit. She’s rale poorly, now I +tell you, an’ this child’s been looking after her +as well as the babies.”</p> +<p>“That’s twice too much.” He ran lightly +up the stairs to meet with a torrent of up-braidings.</p> +<p>“I thought I’d have to die here all alone! +Where’s Marilla? I’ve rung and rung.”</p> +<p>“The girl has been in a dead faint. She’s +worn out. And you must have a regular +nurse.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_194' name='page_194'></a>194</span></p> +<p>“Oh, dear!” Aunt Hetty began to cry, +“couldn’t I have her? ’Twouldn’t be as bad as +them two young ones. And I’d pay her well, +too. She’s so nice and good tempered with +her face full of smiles and sunshine. Oh, if +she’s going to be ill what shall we all do?”</p> +<p>The brandy revived Marilla a little. She +tried to speak but her lips felt stiff. They took +her up carefully and laid her on the old lounge. +The babies started to climb up over her at +once, and howled fearfully when Bridget +pulled them down with an ungentle shake and +sat them on the floor. Then she went to +answer the door bell and ushered in Miss +Armitage.</p> +<p>Dr. Baker came down at the same moment. +“Can’t you shut those children up in some +dungeon? They’ve voices like a foghorn. +Ah, Miss Armitage. How is this patient?”</p> +<p>“Oh, I’m—better,” raising up suddenly then +falling back in a half faint.</p> +<p>“Don’t stir, keep as still as you can. You’ve +no strength to throw away on make believes. +See here, babies,” and he disgorged a paper of +peppermints that at once soothed broken +hearts. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_195' name='page_195'></a>195</span></p> +<p>“When will Mrs. Borden return?”</p> +<p>“Well, she’ll be home to dinner,” and Bridget +grinned. “Things were all well enough +when she went out. You see there’s some +weddin’ fixings goin’ on, and sure Miss Borden +deserves a good husband when she’s waited +five years. How’s the old lady?”</p> +<p>“It’s pretty bad with her, though there’s +no immediate signs of her dying. But it’s +paralysis. Her limbs are cold and useless and +I think it is creeping up her left side. She’ll +be another baby added to the family, unless +she will go to a hospital which would be far +better for her. She must have a steady nurse. +I’ve been rather afraid of this.”</p> +<p>“I must go and see to my dinner. Miss Armitage +won’t you stay until the ladies come +home?”</p> +<p>Miss Armitage signified her willingness and +laid aside her hat.</p> +<p>The babies were fairly gorging themselves.</p> +<p>“I’ll be in again presently. I’ll leave this +for the child, to be given every half hour and +she is to lie perfectly still.”</p> +<p>Miss Armitage smiled down in the pallid +face. It had grown quite thin again, but it +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_196' name='page_196'></a>196</span> +seemed to hold an ethical sweetness. Marilla +put out one slim hand.</p> +<p>“It seems too bad the old lady should be +taken ill at this juncture,” said Mrs. Seymour. +“And Manila’s been such a faithful child. +She’s been growing tall this summer and autumn +and I suppose has run ahead of her +strength. Then with the two children to look +after—well a little nurse girl has rather hard +lines—they seldom have more than one, or if +they do the others are older. My two boys +are in boarding school. I’ve wished one was a +girl, they are so much more company for the +mother. But I’d wanted <i>her</i> to be pretty,” +she cast a sidelong glance at the twins. “It’s +a pity Jack should have taken all the beauty.”</p> +<p>The twins felt so comfortable over the candy +that they went to playing with their blocks. +Miss Armitage gave her patient the second +dose of her medicine and she closed her eyes.</p> +<p>There was almost a shriek as Bridget opened +the hall door with—“the merciful saints +preserve us! Has Jack been run over by one +of them fury things?”</p> +<p>Jack was crying and the blood was streaming +from his nose all over his blouse. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_197' name='page_197'></a>197</span></p> +<p>“He’s been fighting, the bad boy, with a +nasty, dirty tramp!”</p> +<p>Bridget in her inmost heart hoped he had +the worst of it. “Whist!” she exclaimed, +“there’s two sick folks in the house, the doctor’s +been an’ he’s coming again!”</p> +<p>“Sick! Oh, what has happened?”</p> +<p>“Well, the old lady’s had a stroke, an’ +Marilla had a bad faint again. I thought sure +she was dead.”</p> +<p>Mrs. Borden dropped into the hall chair and +began to cry hysterically.</p> +<p>“Jack, go straight up to the bath room,” said +his aunt.</p> +<p>“And the neighbors came in, Mrs. Seymour +to talk through that funnel, and then Miss +Armitage and the doctor,” went on Bridget.</p> +<p>“It’s a pity one can’t stir out of the house +without something happening,” sobbed the +mistress. “And we’re both so tired.”</p> +<p>“There dear, come up stairs.” Florence +took Mrs. Borden by the arm, and they ascended +together. “Now I’ll go and look after +Jack.”</p> +<p>She put a big apron over her dress. Jack +sat on the bath room floor crying. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_198' name='page_198'></a>198</span></p> +<p>“Get up and take off those dirty things. +Come, your father will soon be home and I +don’t know what he’ll do to you,” said his +aunt.</p> +<p>“He may strap me if he likes, but I ain’t +going to be called a snotnosed scabby sneak of +a devil—”</p> +<p>“Hush! hush! I won’t listen to such a +talk—”</p> +<p>“—And he slapped me in the face, and I +kicked his shins good, and then we fit and I +give him a punch in the belly and a good +bunk in the eye—”</p> +<p>“Stop Jack, I won’t hear another word. +Let me get you washed up. There comes your +father.”</p> +<p>Jack’s nose had stopped bleeding and he was +washed and put in some clean clothes. Mrs. +Borden laid aside her wrap and hat and went +through to the nursery. The peppermint must +have been a sedative to nerves and stomach +for the twins looked up with an angelic smile +and went on house building. Mrs. Seymour +made the explanations.</p> +<p>“What could Marilla have been doing? +She was well enough when we went out.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_199' name='page_199'></a>199</span></p> +<p>Miss Armitage gave the hand she held a +gentle squeeze and she saw the eyelids quiver.</p> +<p>“I’m sure I am very much obliged to you +both. I was sorry to miss you that day you +called, Miss Armitage. Oh dear, how you +must have been frightened! And poor Aunt +Hetty! Is it really true—”</p> +<p>“The doctor couldn’t tell the absolute +danger so soon—”</p> +<p>“Oh, I think it has been coming on some +time. She’s dragged her feet and she had a +quick, almost spiteful way of walking, if one +may call it that. She protested against +people slouching round without animation +enough to lift their feet. And some days she +wouldn’t come down to any meal. Well, +she’s a pretty old lady; we’ve always let her +have her way.”</p> +<p>Jack came into the room rather meek but +a handsome little fellow in spite of a lump on +his forehead. He had run out of doors without +waiting to hear the result of Marilla’s fall.</p> +<p>“Well, Captain!” said his father, holding out +his hand.</p> +<p>Mrs. Seymour went home after proffering +her services if she should be needed through +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_200' name='page_200'></a>200</span> +the night. The dinner bell rang and Miss +Borden insisted the guest must go down to +dinner and she would stay with the children.</p> +<p>“We’re having our dinner a little late this +evening on account of a guest; otherwise I +would accept. I can stay half an hour longer. +Then if you won’t mind my coming around +about nine to hear the doctor’s verdict.”</p> +<p>“Oh, you are very sympathetic. Thank +you. I only hope Marilla won’t have a bad +time as she did last summer. Why she’s +never fainted since.”</p> +<p>Jack behaved beautifully at the table. No +one spoke of the fight. But he kept up a +shivery thought of wondering if the ball he had +thrown at Marilla had really hurt her. It +wasn’t a hard ball, at least not as hard as they +had sometimes in the street.</p> +<p>No one appeared very hungry. Mrs. Borden +went up to look after Aunt Hetty who +seemed disinclined to talk and only wanted a +cup of tea. Mr. Borden looked at Marilla +who had fallen asleep. Then he went through +to the other room and took Jack on his knee.</p> +<p>“Now let’s hear about the fight,” he said, +but his voice didn’t seem very stern. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_201' name='page_201'></a>201</span></p> +<p>Jack really wanted to cry. He felt sort of +bruised and beaten though he had knocked +down his adversary and would have stamped +on him if his mother had not appeared at that +moment and carried him off.</p> +<p>“Well, you see”—and the boy winked very +hard.</p> +<p>“Who begun it?”</p> +<p>“Why, that Patsy’s a reg’lar bum! He’s +called me names—he plays hookey too, and +he tried to trip me up and I give him a left-hander, +and he called me a stinking pup and +ever so many nasty names and then we went +at it. Papa, you may strap me if you want +to, but if I hadn’t fit the boys would have +made fun of me and called me sissy, and we +went at it like fury. He made my nose bleed, +and I guess I gave him a black eye; and I +kicked his shins—he’s got fat legs. He’s just +a bounder and teacher said he’d wind up in +the reform school. I just wish he would!” with +an angry zest.</p> +<p>“How do boys learn such shocking talk?” +asked Aunt Florence, “When they never hear +it at home, and as for fighting—”</p> +<p>“It is in the outside air and perhaps like +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_202' name='page_202'></a>202</span> +measles runs through boyhood. Jack, I want +you to stand up for yourself though I don’t +admire street fights.”</p> +<p>“But I won’t be called nasty names, and he +said I was a sneak of a devil—”</p> +<p>“Try and keep out of the way of such boys. +But if you <i>must</i> fight stand up to it boldly. +I think you didn’t get the worst of it, but I +guess it’s good your mother came along just +then, and now little boy you had better go to +bed.”</p> +<p>Jack was very glad nothing had been asked +him about Marilla. He was tired and drowsy. +But Aunt Florence said, “Jack I think you +were a very bad boy.”</p> +<p>Dr. Baker came in and took another look at +Marilla whose pulse was still very fluttering.</p> +<p>“What do you suppose it is?” asked Mrs. +Borden, anxiously.</p> +<p>“The child has a weak heart. Perhaps no +organic disease at present, and if she gets +through the next two or three years safely all +may go well with her. But she ought not +have any severe strain. Do you know anything +about her family?”</p> +<p>“She hasn’t any, I took her from that +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_203' name='page_203'></a>203</span> +Bethany Home. She’s a nice, willing, pleasant +girl and a splendid hand with babies. But +she was with Miss Armitage all through that +awful time we had with the children teething, +and the babies <i>are</i> good. I resolved I’d never +make children so troublesome as Jack was, +waiting on them hand and foot. I’ve had a +different system with them.”</p> +<p>“The system seems to have worked well, +but I think you need a stronger nursemaid.”</p> +<p>“I’ve never let her lift them, I knew it was +not safe for them,” laughing. “Though think +how poor children carry babies about; but now +tell me about Aunt Hetty.”</p> +<p>“I think it is the beginning of the end. You +can’t quite tell, but she’s pretty well worn out +with the years, and she must have a steady +nurse. A hospital would be best.”</p> +<p>“Yes, we will talk that over.”</p> +<p>“Have you any one for tonight?”</p> +<p>“No. Is it as bad as that?” and Mrs. Borden +turned pale.</p> +<p>“I should advise an emergency nurse for a +week or so; by that time you can make some +plans.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_204' name='page_204'></a>204</span></p> +<p>Mrs. Vanderveer was comfortable, but she +did not want to be left alone.</p> +<p>“Oh, isn’t it dreadful, Florence, that this +should happen just now. If it only could have +waited until Christmas,” Mrs. Borden said +with tears in her eyes. “I meant you should +have such a happy wedding. You’ve always +been like an own sister to me.”</p> +<p>“Well, we won’t worry tonight. Only—”</p> +<p>Miss Armitage came in and heard the story +through.</p> +<p>“Let me telephone at once to the nurses’ +home, then you will feel relieved. And perhaps +it would be a good thing to send Marilla +to me for a little while again.”</p> +<p>“I cannot do without a nurse girl.”</p> +<p>“But a week or two may restore Marilla.”</p> +<p>The nurse came, a wholesome middle aged +body who had been for weeks with a helpless +paralytic. And so the midnight found them +all comfortable. Marilla was left on the +lounge. Miss Armitage sat a long while in her +soft wrapper planning about the child she felt +she must rescue. Oh, she <i>did</i> want her. She +did not try to give any reason for the love that +had stolen almost unaware in her heart, or the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_205' name='page_205'></a>205</span> +faith that this child would not disappoint her. +Every year she was growing older, every year +she longed more for some one of her very own. +Why should she not play fairy godmother in +earnest? She must have Dr. Richard’s verdict.</p> +<p>For Mrs. Borden with many kindly qualities +looked at matters only as they applied to +herself. When Marilla was eighteen she would +come to the freedom of a bound-out girl, too +old to begin another life, settled in a rut—if she +lived. Was she not one of the little ones that +might be rescued and live out a higher life? +There were many who could not, but she felt +she must go carefully.</p> +<p>Mrs. Holmes proved an admirable nurse and +Aunt Hetty took to her in an astonishing manner. +She was attractive to the children, as well, +who greeted her with a smile.</p> +<p>On the next day Dr. Baker admitted the +paralysis was gaining rapidly and thought she +could not last long. That evening she said to +the nurse, “Send Mr. Borden up here, and you +stay down with the ladies.”</p> +<p>He came up and greeted her cordially, hoping +for better things, as friends are wont to +say. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_206' name='page_206'></a>206</span></p> +<p>“No, John, there will not be any better, so +we won’t indulge in make believes. Carry and +James were quite sure this way of living wasn’t +good for me. They wanted me to buy a house +and make it over to them and they would care +for me the rest of my life. I’ve lived with +Carry, paid her good board, too, so I knew what +that would be. I couldn’t live quite alone, +you see—I always wanted some one round that +I could see if I wanted to. Old people do get +queer. So when I had to foreclose here I made +you this offer. You’re the only one of them +all who has not asked me outright for money, +and I honor you for it. Your mortgage here is +twenty-three hundred.”</p> +<p>“Yes,” he said with a vague sort of hope that +she wasn’t going to ask him to settle it.</p> +<p>“I want you to get it cancelled; I’ll give you +the order. I’ve meant to do this the last +year. Carry worried so at me that I went +away with her and felt none the better for it. +I’d rather staid at home with Bridget. So you +see to that at once. And I want to make a +new will.”</p> +<p>“Aunt Hetty! Well, I don’t know what to +say,” and his tone showed his surprise. “Don’t +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_207' name='page_207'></a>207</span> +say anything.” She gave her little cackle of a +laugh that always had a sound of derision in +it. “You know I can’t take any of it with me, +and I’d like to know it will make few people +pleased and happy. I’m going to make you +executor, so get some one else to write out the +will. I fixed it to my liking today. You’ve +all been very good to put up with my whims +and queernesses. Old people don’t like too +much advice, especially where money is concerned. +Look in the second drawer there—in +a long envelope.”</p> +<p>“Thank you for this expression of your satisfaction. +The babies and Jack may have +been a nuisance at times.”</p> +<p>“But that little girl’s been good enough to +make up for any annoyance—not that there’s +been much. Jack’s a smart, funny little fellow. +You know they’re all more or less bad, +but they grow up pretty fair. There now, I’m +tired.”</p> +<p>Mr. Borden wished her a kindly good-night +and went down stairs to recount the wonderful +interview.</p> +<p>“Oh, John!” Mrs. Borden leaned her head +down on her husband’s shoulder. “What a +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_208' name='page_208'></a>208</span> +streak of good fortune! Now we really do +own the house free and clear, I thought our +summering would be quite moderate but it +wasn’t. Still it did the babies an immense deal +of good after they got over their awful time. +And they’re so nice and well now, and are +growing better looking all the time. If Marilla +only <i>could</i> make their hair curl! It’s so +stringy, and we haven’t worried at Aunt +Hetty for what she did or what she didn’t do, +and weren’t snappy when she found fault. I +used to think she needn’t have rung for Marilla +quite so much, but the child never minded +running up and down.”</p> +<p>“How has she been today?”</p> +<p>“Well, I don’t just know; Dr. Baker said +she must keep pretty still, so she’s laid on the +old lounge, but the babies would crawl over +her. It does seem as if we must have someone +else—an older person, though some of them +object to taking out children. But if we want +to get much sewing done—”</p> +<p>“I think I’ll have a seamstress for a week or +so,” said Aunt Florence, “time goes on so +fast.”</p> +<p>Marilla had gone up stairs to her own bed, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_209' name='page_209'></a>209</span> +where Bridget had crooned over her in tender +Irish fashion.</p> +<p>“An’ I’m sore afraid them babies’ll be the +death of you, poor lamb! They drag on you +so, and their chatter would drive me crazy.”</p> +<p>“But they’re so funny.”</p> +<p>“I don’t call it funny with their hundred and +fifty wants,” sniffed Bridget.</p> +<p>Marilla turned faint now and then but for +several days she was not sent out with the +children. Miss Armitage came over every day +to inquire about both invalids. Mrs. Vanderveer +dozed a good deal and the numbness +seemed crawling further up her body.</p> +<p>“She may have another stroke and she may +go just this way,” said Mrs. Holmes, “I +wouldn’t give her more than a month at the +longest. I’ve seen it so many times. But it +is merciful for them not to last years.”</p> +<p>It was mid-October then. The seamstress +proved a treasure. Garments were completed +and laid away.</p> +<p>“I want most of the work finished up in +November,” said Mrs. Borden, “then we can +plan all the other matters.”</p> +<p>“I shall have to look up some one else. I +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_210' name='page_210'></a>210</span> +want a nurse to take up the children in the +morning and wash and dress them, and they +must go out. They’re losing all their lovely +weather. Marilla doesn’t seem to get along +at all. If she’s going to develop some heart +trouble she will just be good for nothing. Of +course, when I took her she seemed healthy +enough, and it was the best thing to do then. +John has had some good luck this fall and we +don’t need to think of saving up money for the +mortgage. I could afford a regular nurse, and +it would ease me up so much. I don’t suppose +they’d take Marilla back at the Home.”</p> +<p>“Talk to John about it if; we <i>could</i> find a +new place for her. Why, she would make a +nice little waitress. If you could keep three +girls,” laughingly.</p> +<p>“Dear me, we must not spread out too rapidly, +and somehow I’d hate to give her up. +She trains the children so nicely. And have +you noticed how sort of gentlemanly Jack is +growing toward her? He was real rude.”</p> +<p>Jack had experienced many qualms of conscience +about throwing the ball that day, but +Marilla made no reference to it. Still she +might tell Bridget, she and Bridget were such +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_211' name='page_211'></a>211</span> +cronies, and Bridget would make an awful +fuss.</p> +<p>“Marilla,” he said one night when she was +getting him ready for bed—“I didn’t mean to +hurt you that day with the ball—you know. +I didn’t think girls were so tender.”</p> +<p>“I was tired and there had been something +stopping my breath like, now and then, maybe +it wasn’t the ball.”</p> +<p>“You were good not to tell on a fellow. I’ll +never, never hurt you again, nor pinch you, +nor be ugly to you. You’re so sweet, Marilla,” +and he clasped his arms around her +neck, kissing her.</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='CHAPTER_XI_THE_ARK_OF_LOVE' id='CHAPTER_XI_THE_ARK_OF_LOVE'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER XI</h2> +<h3>THE ARK OF LOVE</h3> +</div> +<p>The glowing golden October weather had +given place to several lowering days. Furnaces +and grates were started up, and overcoats +brought out, and pedestrians hurried +along. Even children did not stop to play, for +now a cold drizzle had set in.</p> +<p>It was very warm and cheery in Miss Armitage’s +library. There was a fire in the grate, +a pot of beautiful red carnations on one stand, +a great vase of roses on the other, and a +dainty tea table set out with Wedgewood. +Thursday afternoon she was always at home. +From some cause there had been very few in. +Jane came and put two big lumps of cannel +coal on the fire and said a few words, then went +to answer the ring at the door; it was Dr. +Richards.</p> +<p>“I’m glad to see you,” she said. “Will you +please light a burner or two?”</p> +<p>“Oh, no, let us sit in this mysterious light +and watch the blaze leaping over and around +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_213' name='page_213'></a>213</span> +those black hillocks. Have you been busy today?”</p> +<p>“Not very. Some days I don’t feel in a +working humor. I had only two calls this +afternoon. Will you have a cup of tea?”</p> +<p>“Yes; when have you been to the Bordens?”</p> +<p>“Yesterday.”</p> +<p>“And how are the invalids?”</p> +<p>“Mrs. Vanderveer is sinking in a comatose +state; she doesn’t suffer, which <i>is</i> a great blessing +toward the last. As for Marilla”—she made +a pause.</p> +<p>“Well—” inquiringly.</p> +<p>“I’m not satisfied, she has such a blue, tired +look. But she is about as usual. Dr. Richards, +I want her.”</p> +<p>Something in the tone touched him. It +seemed the cry of motherhood.</p> +<p>“Well, wouldn’t they give her up?”</p> +<p>“I really think they would; a friend came to +see if they did not want her nursemaid, a nice +well trained girl of twenty; an excellent seamstress. +She is going to California. Mrs. +Borden told me this as we were down in the +hall. Dr. Baker said something about the +child’s health that rather startled her. But +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_214' name='page_214'></a>214</span> +before we could have any discussion another +visitor called. She thinks Marilla doesn’t +have anything much to do; but the babies are +a constant care. They want to be entertained +every minute of the time. Violet is developing +quite a temper and slaps her little nurse. +All her mother said was ‘Violet, that’s naughty.’ +But you should have seen Pansy speak some +Mother Goose rhymes. Marilla had been +training her. The gestures, the roll of the +eyes, the coquettish turn of the head was the +daintiest thing you ever saw. Then she repeated—‘Where +are you going, my pretty +maid?’ and she had a little milk pail on her +arm, and she managed to keep the two parts +wonderfully distinct—it was remarkable in a +child not three years old, and when she said—‘Then +I won’t marry you, my pretty maid’ +and answered so pertly—‘Nobody asked you, +sir, she said,’ it would have done credit to an +exhibition. Her mother sprang up and kissed +her rapturously, crying—‘Isn’t she the dearest +and sweetest thing and the smartest! Think +of her learning that and acting it off so completely, +and not three years old! She is +smarter than Violet’—and then Violet set up +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_215' name='page_215'></a>215</span> +such a howl! Her mother pacified her by +saying Marilla should tell her a piece, and after +several efforts Cinderella did induce her to say +by a great deal of prompting ‘Milkman, Milkman, +where have you been?’ Think of the +wear on the child’s nerves, and she looked so +tired. I really couldn’t stand it a moment +longer. They think she has nothing to do +but just amuse those two strong irrepressible +children who climb over her and torment her +in every fashion. I can’t stand it. I hardly +slept last night thinking of it.”</p> +<p>“Can’t you bring her over for a visit?”</p> +<p>“I thought of proposing that. If I could persuade +her to transfer the child to me—”</p> +<p>“But if she gets another nurse?”</p> +<p>“Yes, I must try. The strain on her is too +great, and now for almost a week she has not +been out of the house; Mrs. Borden bewails +it for the childrens’ sake. She thinks only of +them with a mother’s selfishness, and she +doesn’t give Marilla credit for these pretty +ways or their intelligence. She is just their nurse +girl. It is a cruel waste of the child’s gifts.”</p> +<p>“I’d like to see Dr. Baker; most of all I’d +like to see Marilla, but it wouldn’t be etiquette +to call.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_216' name='page_216'></a>216</span></p> +<p>“I’ll go tomorrow with courage enough to +have a gentle talk or a straight out one,” said +Miss Armitage resolutely. “We try to save +other lives, why not this one? And this one is +dear to me. It has so much of promise in it, +and life gets lonely sometimes.”</p> +<p>He longed to come into it, but he kept his +promise. Until she made some sign he must +be content with friendship. He rose abruptly +and said he must be going. She did not detain +him.</p> +<p>It was raining a-softly now and he hurried +along. His office was in a little ell part in a +rather inviting looking house, and he took his +meals with the tenant. The office boy was on +the lookout for him, it was time he went +home.</p> +<p>“There’s a gentleman in there waiting for +you,” he said with his good-night.</p> +<p>The gentleman was comfortably ensconced +in the Morris chair, smoking a cigar. Doctor +Richards took a second look.</p> +<p>“Why, Lorimer!” he exclaimed. “Where +have you dropped from? I haven’t seen you +in an age—but I’m glad, old fellow; I was feeling +rather down; I should have had a gay +presentiment.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_217' name='page_217'></a>217</span></p> +<p>“Remembering old times when we were +both bloated aristocrats, favorites with the +gods.”</p> +<p>“And are now earning daily bread,” laughed +the doctor. “At least I am and trying to help +suffering humanity. Isn’t that neatly put?”</p> +<p>“I don’t know whether I can claim all that; +now and then I get some poor fellow’s affairs +out of a snarl and make him pay for it, and one +end of something has drifted here to Newton +and I’m after that, but I thought I’d hunt you +up first. I’ve been here a good half hour.”</p> +<p>“And supper is ready in the house. Then +we will have a good hour before any one drops +in. Come in,” and he opened a side door into +a hall.</p> +<p>There were three persons at the table, an +elderly couple and a woman in the thirties. +They made Mr. Lorimer cordially welcome +and the supper was inviting. The guest +asked some questions about Newton which +was a quiet rather old fashioned town quite +set in its ways.</p> +<p>Afterward they settled themselves comfortably +in the office.</p> +<p>“I’ve come to hunt up some one—do you +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_218' name='page_218'></a>218</span> +know anything about a Bethany Home for +orphans, girls, I believe.”</p> +<p>Dr. Richards roused from his lazy position. +“Yes, I know about it, though I never been +on the staff. Why?”</p> +<p>“I want to learn about a child placed there +four or five years ago. Let me see,” referring +to a memorandum, “name, Marilla Bond; +mother and father died in this town.”</p> +<p>“Marilla Bond. Yes. I know the child. +What of her?”</p> +<p>“I’ll begin at the very first. Hardly two +years ago Peter Schermerhorn died at the age +of ninety-eight. He was the black sheep of an +otherwise respectable family, went off and +spent his portion in riotous living, afterward +bought a tract of ground above Harlem, turned +hermit, raised geese and ducks and pigs, +married and had three daughters and they in +turn married, glad, I suppose, to get away from +the penurious living. So it went on. He had +to give up the pigs and geese, did a little gardening +and two years ago died without a will. +Oddly enough he had kept a family record +which has been of great service to us. The old +shanty was a disgrace, the ground valuable. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_219' name='page_219'></a>219</span> +The city was bringing up one of its fine +avenues and a syndicate made a proffer for the +land. Of course the heirs soon scented this +out, and our firm has been trying to settle +the estate so the property can be turned into +money, and a good deed given. We have +found about everybody, I believe, but the +mother of this child who is in very direct +descent, eluded us a long while.”</p> +<p>“And this child is one of the heirs?” in surprise.</p> +<p>“Exactly. Her mother came here after her +marriage. The father was killed in some +machinery mishap. The mother was in a +store, a bakery, I believe, and dying, gave her +little girl to the friend she had lived with, +and the friend married and went out to Easton. +We found she did not take the child with her +but put her in this Bethany Home with some +important papers. So we want the child and +the papers.”</p> +<p>“The child was twelve, a year ago September. +She was bound-out to some fairly nice +people as a little nursemaid. And an heiress!” +in a tone of glad surprise.</p> +<p>“Well not to any great extent. There are a +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_220' name='page_220'></a>220</span> +good many heirs it seems—ten thousand or so. +But we had to know whether she was living +or not on account of the title.”</p> +<p>His little Cinderella! Truly this was a +fairy story. “Oh, are you <i>quite</i> sure?” he +said.</p> +<p>“Oh, there’s no doubt, if she is the true heir. +But the woman at Easton attested a very +straight story and knew of the husband’s +death, though she had not known him personally. +The money is on the mother’s side, +you see, so his death is neither here nor there. +And now—can’t we go out and interview this +place and the keeper?”</p> +<p>“Hardly tonight. The matron is a rather +rigid person I believe. We had best tackle her +by daylight, and the child is almost in this +vicinity. A rather unusual child I think, very +sweet natured. Oh, I can’t express all my +delight. She is the kind of girl that ought to +be educated, that should live in an atmosphere +of love, and she is not really strong enough to +take the rough and tumble of life. Oh, I can’t +tell you how glad I am.” Lorimer surveyed his +friend with a rather humorous smile. They +had been chums during a summer in Switzerland +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_221' name='page_221'></a>221</span> +and Holland, but he had not thought +Richards much given to either love or romance.</p> +<p>Then they branched off into old times when +both had been rather wasteful. Lorimer was +working hard to redeem that youthful extravagance; +Dr. Richards cared nothing at all +for the moneyed end of life.</p> +<p>He would fain have kept his friend all night +but Lorimer had engaged his room at a hotel. +They were to meet as soon as possible in the +morning.</p> +<p>Bethany Home was quite in the suburbs, +reached by a walk after one had left the +trolley. The house was a big rambling place +to which there had been made several additions. +It had been a gift from a benevolently +disposed woman, with a small endowment +that was occasionally added to. There was +quite a spacious garden and an abundance of +rose vines.</p> +<p>Yes, Mrs. Johnson was in and they were +ushered into a large old fashioned apartment, +scrupulously neat and formal. Mrs. Johnson +was a somewhat portly woman turned of +sixty, whose face had settled into severe lines, +and she eyed her visitors rather suspiciously. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_222' name='page_222'></a>222</span></p> +<p>“I am Dr. Richards,” he began with a +softening of the countenance, “and my friend +Mr. Lorimer is a lawyer from New York who +comes on a matter of business concerning a +little girl who was an inmate of the Home until +a little over a year ago—Marilla Bond.”</p> +<p>“Yes”—in a rather questioning manner.</p> +<p>Lorimer told his story and the surprise in +the woman’s face was evident.</p> +<p>“What is of most importance is to learn +whether there are any papers to substantiate +the claim. One has to be careful in the legal +matters.”</p> +<p>She seemed to consider. “Yes,” rather +reluctantly. “The person who brought her +here gave quite a box of papers and some +trinkets to my safe keeping. We take charge +of them until the girls are eighteen—then they +have served out their time and are legally their +own mistresses. Ours is quite a private institution +and has no connection with the city, +although it has a board of officers, of which I +am president. Of course I keep watch over +the girls who are bound-out. This Marilla +has a very nice place. She was away all summer +with the family. One of our managers +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_223' name='page_223'></a>223</span> +visited this Mrs. Borden on her return and +found everything satisfactory and the child +content.”</p> +<p>“Could we look over the papers?”</p> +<p>She seemed rather loth to produce them but +she could find no excuse. She recalled the +fact that she had seen Dr. Richards’ name in +connection with the Children’s Hospital.</p> +<p>Certainly there was enough to substantiate +the claim. A marriage certificate, an attestation +of the baby’s birth, and old Dr. Langdon +was still alive, though he had retired from +practice. A packet of letters as well, two +notices of Mr. Bond’s accident and death. +Everything was ready for corroboration.</p> +<p>Mr. Lorimer gathered up the important +papers. At first Mrs. Johnson rather demurred +about his taking them away.</p> +<p>“Why, I would have no object in destroying +them. I should not be the gainer by it. And +this is the last heir we have to trace. Now we +can proceed to a settlement. The syndicate +takes more than half the property and pays +cash. The remainder can be easily sold. No +one seems disposed to demand an extravagant +price. You will hear from me before long, and +I will return the papers.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_224' name='page_224'></a>224</span></p> +<p>After they had settled that and left the lady, +Lorimer said—</p> +<p>“Now let us interview this Doctor Langdon.”</p> +<p>He was a somewhat feeble, white haired old +man but received them very graciously and +was much interested in the story. Turning +to his book he refreshed his memory. Yes, +there was the birth of the child. The mother +he put down as rather delicate. A note some +time after substantiated the accident and +death of the father. He was very willing to +give an affidavit. “You’ve been a tremendous +help to me, Al,” said Mr. Lorimer, “estates +that have to be settled this way are an enormous +bother, and thanks are poor pay,” +laughing.</p> +<p>“I believe I shall demand something more. +The child will need a guardian. She has +several warm friends here, I’m not willing to +lose sight of her. So I shall ask that office.”</p> +<p>“Well—why not? Some one must act until +she is of age. Yes, I’ll remember. I’m glad +you spoke of it. I’ll be up again. Indeed +I’m quite curious to see how she takes her fortune.”</p> +<p>So the friends parted. Dr. Richards made +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_225' name='page_225'></a>225</span> +several calls, stopped for some lunch, found a +number of patients awaiting him and a message +that had come from Miss Armitage, who +wished to see him at once. She had had quite +an eventful morning as well. Some vague +presentiment had haunted her about Marilla +and after disposing of a few business calls she +hurried around to Arch street.</p> +<p>Mrs. Borden answered the door.</p> +<p>“Oh, Miss Armitage! We’re so full of +trouble! Aunt Hetty has just died and +Marilla—oh, I don’t know what will become of +the child!”</p> +<p>“She is not ill?” in a tone of anxiety.</p> +<p>“Well, come in and sit down and let me tell +you. They thought the first part of the night +the poor old lady was dropping off quietly. +Then toward morning she seemed to rally, and +kept calling for Marilla. John had been up +there most of the time and he said bring the +child up. We didn’t suppose she was really +conscious. So Marilla went up. It was daylight, +and just as soon as she went to the bedside +the poor old lady held out both hands, and +Mrs. Holmes said she really smiled, and then +a horrible thing happened, like a fit, and her +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_226' name='page_226'></a>226</span> +mouth all curled up and her eyes rolled up to +the whites and Marilla screamed and fainted +and the old lady was dead in a minute, and +then the child fainted several times and they +put her in her own bed—we’d had her down +stairs. What did your doctor say about her +last summer? Dr. Baker said her heart was +weak. Now I think they oughtn’t have sent +a girl out from the Home who had any such +thing the matter with her. She had it real +easy, sitting on the floor playing with the +babies. And we never let her carry them up +and down stairs or put anything hard on her, +and now you know they run all over and are +very little trouble. They have always been +such good babies, but if she is going to faint +at every little thing she won’t be much good. +Mr. Borden has gone for that other girl and +to attend to the necessary business. There +will be the funeral and we shall have to take in +some of the folks, I know. Mrs. Holmes will +stay right along until we are straight again, +but, it’s asking a good deal I admit,” and she +paused.</p> +<p>“Yes, let me take her.” Miss Armitage had +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_227' name='page_227'></a>227</span> +come primed with several arguments, but she +saw they would not be needed.</p> +<p>“Of course the shock was awful. Mrs. +Holmes said she wasn’t surprised, for Marilla +was just going to clasp the outstretched hands, +but the old lady came back to her natural +looks and I’m so glad; but of course Marilla +will be haunted by the sight—”</p> +<p>“Yes, and you will have so much on your +hands. Do you think she could walk that far +or shall I order a hack?”</p> +<p>“Oh, she came down to the nursery and +Bridget brought her up some breakfast. +There’s the undertaker—”</p> +<p>“I’ll go up to the nursery,” said Miss Armitage.</p> +<p>A very wan little girl was pillowed upon the +lounge. Jack had been sent to school without +hearing of the happening. Violet was marching +up and down ringing a little bell and saying +“Go to door, Illa, go to door.” Pansy was +leaning over her with a book crying authoritatively—“Read +to me, read to me.”</p> +<p>Miss Armitage lifted Pansy down but she +started to climb up again. The lady sat down +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_228' name='page_228'></a>228</span> +in the place and drew Marilla’s head to her +bosom and let the child cry there.</p> +<p>“Illa can’t read to you now,” she said. +“Poor Illa’s sick.”</p> +<p>“’Tain’t your Illa,” said the child obstinately.</p> +<p>“My dear,” Miss Armitage began soothingly, +kissing the tremulous lips, “you are going +home with me. It has been dreadful I know, +but you must try to forget it. Jane will be +glad to have you and Dr. Richards will comfort +you. Don’t you remember what a nice +time we had last summer? There dear—little +Cinderella.”</p> +<p>Marina smiled faintly through her tears.</p> +<p>“Oh, I am so glad. It was so sudden you +know, and when she stretched out her hands.”</p> +<p>“She must have known you, and after all it +was sweet to be remembered then. Are you +very weak? But I’m afraid you couldn’t +walk to Loraine place.”</p> +<p>“I’m so—so shaky—”</p> +<p>Aunt Florence entered the room and snatched +the bell from Violet. “You must not make +such a noise,” she declared. “Oh Miss Armitage, +you are always shocked by a death, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_229' name='page_229'></a>229</span> +aren’t you? And poor Aunt Hetty has been +dying the last week, though the doctor said +she did not really suffer. But she’s past +eighty and that’s a good long life. I do wonder +if she really knew she was calling for Marilla, +and the poor child has had a bad time. +How good of you to offer to take her for awhile. +Funerals are so dismal to a child.”</p> +<p>“I think I had better have a cab,” said the +guest. “Will you kindly telephone for one?”</p> +<p>Miss Borden assented. Then she brought +a frock for Marilla, and between them they +had her dressed. Violet tumbled her box of +blocks on the floor and began kicking them +around.</p> +<p>“Oh, dear! When you want quiet, children +are always the worst! When that new girl +comes she shall take them out in their carriage +and we will have peace for a little while.”</p> +<p>Mr. Borden entered at that moment with +a very pleasant-faced young woman.</p> +<p>“Come through in my room,” said Miss +Borden, “and you can watch for the cab.” +She shut the door between, but the babies +burst into a howl and she went back to pacify +them. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_230' name='page_230'></a>230</span></p> +<p>“Oh, I do feel better,” exclaimed Marilla, +and her eyes lightened up, “but no one seems +to know just what to do to amuse the babies, +I’ve grown so used to it.”</p> +<p>“They must get along without you for +awhile. It is a pity they couldn’t be sent +away as well.”</p> +<p>The cab came presently. Mr. Borden almost +carried Marilla down stairs. “Now get +good and rested,” he said. “It will be a sad +time. Death always is.”</p> +<p>Oh, how delightful the beautiful house was! +They went through to the library where the +grate fire had been kindled and Marilla drew a +long, happy breath. Why she felt almost +well. Jane brought her some hot milk and +presently spread a dainty little luncheon on +the library table. They had quite a cheerful +time and it seemed as if she improved every +moment.</p> +<p>Dr. Richards thought he would never get +through with the office patients this afternoon +and he was impatient to know what had happened. +As for his own experiences they must +be kept to himself for some time. Indeed he +almost felt as if it was a dream. He had seen +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_231' name='page_231'></a>231</span> +Marilla only three times since her return. +First she had gone to the office to report to +him and let him see what the seaside had done +for her, then the episode of measles had kept +her indoors as well as the babies. He had +met her twice with her precious freight, and +even on Sundays she had not found time to go +to Miss Armitage.</p> +<p>She told the story over to save the child’s +nerves. “And so the poor old lady has gone. +Yet I think it hardly fair for you to have to +wait upon her so much.”</p> +<p>“Oh then Mrs. Holmes came and she was +very nice. But as soon as I came in with the +babies she went out for her walk and Aunt +Hetty wanted me to read to her. She liked so +to have me read, and somehow she seemed +gentler and quite sweet like after she was so +poorly. I liked it better than being so much +with the children. They were growing so big +and strong and wanted to keep tumbling over +me. It made me so tired sometimes.”</p> +<p>“Marilla is never going back there,” Dr. +Richards said decisively. “She isn’t strong +enough for a nurse girl.”</p> +<p>“No, she is not going back. I went out +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_232' name='page_232'></a>232</span> +awhile ago to see that Mrs. Johnson, but she +thought the place an excellent one, and that +it was a bad thing to change girls about, making +them dissatisfied everywhere, but I meant +to bide my time, and find an opportunity. +Now I think they will be willing to give her +up as they have a grown-up woman. She +came while I was there. Dr. Baker told +them Marilla had a weak heart, and I +think it startled them. They have no idea +how hard she has been worked.”</p> +<p>Oh, he longed to tell her of Marilla’s good +fortune. Somehow they must manage to +share the child between them. She had the +lovely home and the mother heart, and he +wanted a home with a sweet little girl in it.</p> +<p>At Arch street there was a good deal of +confusion. Cousins and nieces who had called +only at rare intervals on Mrs. Vanderveer were +most attentive, suddenly. They did wonder +between themselves if Aunt Hetty was going +to leave <i>all</i> her money to John Borden!</p> +<p>The new nurse, Lizzie by name, was really +a great comfort. She took up the babies in +the morning, bathed and dressed them and +gave them their breakfast. They still took +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_233' name='page_233'></a>233</span> +their midday nap but she managed to introduce +some discipline, yet she was not harsh. +Master Jack stood a little in awe of her. She +was a good seamstress also.</p> +<p>So passed the three days and they brought +Aunt Hetty down in the parlor and put her +in a fine casket, keeping the doors shut until +the hour for service. Mrs. Seymour had the +nurse bring the children in her house. So +they said prayers reverently, sang some lovely +parting hymns and laid her away, her long +life on earth finished.</p> +<p>The relatives were asked to meet at Mr. +Borden’s office the next day at ten to hear the +will read.</p> +<p>Was ever any will satisfactory where property +was divided up into small gifts? Five +hundred dollars to this one and to that one, +three hundred apiece to some others. Jack, +Jr., had five hundred, the babies, three hundred, +and Marilla Bond, three hundred.</p> +<p>“It was very nice of her in a way,” said Mrs. +Borden, “but I think one hundred dollars +would have been remembrance enough for the +little waiting on she did, and I find Lizzie is of +much more service than she was. Of course +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_234' name='page_234'></a>234</span> +she costs more. I shall go out to the Home +some day and give her up on account of her +health. Miss Armitage might as well take +her. She’ll make a nice little waitress maid. +And now that the house is clear I feel that we +needn’t economize so closely. You and John +get your five hundred with the rest, and she +gave me her diamond ear rings after we came +back in the summer. It was smart in her not +to have John make her will, so none of them +can say he persuaded her. Well, now we can +settle ourselves to the next thing.”</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='CHAPTER_XII_A_WONDERFUL_HAPPENING' id='CHAPTER_XII_A_WONDERFUL_HAPPENING'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER XII</h2> +<h3>A WONDERFUL HAPPENING</h3> +</div> +<p>Mrs. Borden was surprised that Mrs. Johnson +received back Marilla Bond’s indentures +with no remonstrance or objection. She certainly +had not known about this weak heart. +The child had never been ill, but something +else might come to hand. She was glad there +was no other reason and that the little girl had +proved trustworthy.</p> +<p>Miss Armitage was also surprised that Mrs. +Johnson would not agree to an immediate +transferrence.</p> +<p>“You may go on keeping her for awhile,” +said the lady in a lofty manner. “<i>You</i> may +tire of her. We will see presently.”</p> +<p>That was all the permission she could get +and it was a blow to Miss Armitage. She had +come to love the child with a fervor she had +hardly dreamed of and Marilla simply adored +her. Dr. Richards teased her a little about +her fortune. She was quite a welcome guest +at the Bordens and the twins almost devoured +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_236' name='page_236'></a>236</span> +her when she came, but poor Bridget was +nearly heart broken.</p> +<p>“If I had a little girl of my own I could hardly +love her any better, and Marilla Bond, if I +was a rich woman I’d steal you some day and +we’d go off to some place in Europe, Paris, +maybe, and have a beautiful house and servants +to wait on us and horses and a carriage +and we’d travel about like grand folks. It +would be as nice as that night when you went +to the palace and danced with the Prince, and +I’d buy you fine clothes and diamonds and I’d +wait on you hand and foot; I don’t wonder the +babies loved you. You are the sweetest thing +the good God ever sent down here!”</p> +<p>And then Marilla hugged Bridget and kissed +her and they both cried out of pure love.</p> +<p>“That Lizzie does very well and don’t +bother me, but it isn’t like having some one to +slip up to you with a smile of sunshine that +warms your heart through and through.”</p> +<p>Yet it was flattering to be so well loved, but +she did not want to come back and be a nurse +maid again. Ah, if she could only stay with +Miss Armitage! She began to study a little, +she was so eager to learn. The music enchanted +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_237' name='page_237'></a>237</span> +her and she was delighted to pick out +tunes with her soft touch.</p> +<p>“I don’t understand what Mrs. Johnson +means,” Miss Armitage said to the doctor. +“I offered to adopt Marilla and educate her +and see that she was well placed in life. I +have no near relatives, and I don’t believe I +shall ever marry, I like my life as it is, but she +was so sort of mysterious and secretive and +declared she could not give an answer at present, +as if she had some further plans. I did +make the most of her having a weak heart—you +said so and Doctor Baker as well. Oh, do +you believe there is any real danger?”</p> +<p>She turned pale at the thought.</p> +<p>“With care I think she will outgrow it. She +has lived in an overstrained atmosphere with +those children. Then it was a dreadful shock +to have the old lady die that way when she was +looking for a tender recognition. What happened +about a fortnight before?”</p> +<p>“I do not know, I found her unconscious. +The ladies were out, the old Aunt had a stroke. +It is such a sweet, promising life, and can be +developed into something worth while. You +may think me visionary—” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_238' name='page_238'></a>238</span></p> +<p>Oh, why could she not see this other life +that might be blessed and broadened by her +love!</p> +<p>“I am afraid there is something back of it all +that I cannot fathom,” she continued. “It +haunts me. Suppose you were to see this +Mrs. Johnson. A man can sometimes penetrate +plans—”</p> +<p>And he was in collusion with Mrs. Johnson, +keeping the secret from the woman he loved, +but if there should be some mistake!</p> +<p>“Yes, I will see Mrs. Johnson,” he said +slowly.</p> +<p>A light footfall came down the stairs, and +Marilla flew to his side.</p> +<p>“Oh, I thought I heard your voice,” and +both small hands clasped his. “Fairy godmother +I have spelled all those queer words +until I can just feel them in my brain. Oh, +doctor, when I wrote you that letter last summer +wasn’t some words wrongly spelled? +You see I <i>had</i> forgotten some things, and I am +learning so much. I want to stay here, and +I don’t believe any one else wants me—only +the babies might.”</p> +<p>When she glanced up at times it seemed as +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_239' name='page_239'></a>239</span> +if the pupil that was so much darker than the +iris that it flooded it with the tint of the under +wave that seemed to overflow the crest of the +swell. They were unusual eyes, changing with +every emotion. She looked quite well again, +and the lips were rosy.</p> +<p>“Oh, you don’t?” with a queer little smile. +“Well the babies can’t have you.”</p> +<p>“Oh, Bridget thinks if she were rich she +would run away with me,” and she laughingly +detailed the woman’s plan for their journeying +about.</p> +<p>“If Bridget should get a windfall—servants +do sometimes, we should have to keep a sharp +eye on you both, and now I must go.”</p> +<p>“Can’t he stay to dinner?” She crossed +over and pressed Miss Armitage’s hand to her +soft cheek.</p> +<p>“Why we shall be glad to have him, but you +must notify Jane and Norah.”</p> +<p>She returned with the compliments of both. +While they were waiting for the summons and +being beguiled with her pleasant chatter he +was thinking what a charming family group +they would make. If he only had the old +fortune! +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_240' name='page_240'></a>240</span></p> +<p>They had an enjoyable time and when they +returned to the library she begged him to play +chess. She was so fond of following the +devious course of the opposing parties.</p> +<p>“Office calls will not begin until eight,” he +said and she rolled up the table and brought +out the beautiful chess men. She was always +so deft it was a pleasure to watch her.</p> +<p>He was playing for the white queen; he +often did. This time he studied his moves +cautiously. But Miss Armitage had played +so much with her uncle. Then the telephone +rang and he went astray.</p> +<p>She answered it. “For Dr. Richards, a Mr. +Lorimer was in the office, wanted to see him +at once. Important; everything was progressing +finely. Could he not see the little +heiress that evening?”</p> +<p>He looked at Miss Armitage in ludicrous +dismay.</p> +<p>“What is it?” she asked.</p> +<p>“Your sin finds you out, doesn’t it?” with +an amused yet deprecating smile. “I suppose +I ought to have explained before, but really +I could hardly believe it would amount to +anything. Marilla must have come from fairy +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_241' name='page_241'></a>241</span> +land to have all these things happen to her. +May I ask Mr. Lorimer here?”</p> +<p>“Certainly. You are very mysterious.”</p> +<p>Dr. Richards went on with the telephone +talk, giving explicit directions how to find +Loraine place where they were all assembled, +and, all anxious to hear his story. Then he +took both little soft hands in his.</p> +<p>“What would you say if a real fortune was +coming to you?”</p> +<p>“Why there’s Aunt Hetty’s money and that +will double in fourteen years, Mr. Borden +said, but I like fairy godmother better than +any fortune. Come, and go on with the +game.”</p> +<p>“No, I must explain to Miss Armitage. +This was why Mrs. Johnson acted rather +queer. She was enjoined to silence. And +the funny thing was she didn’t half believe +it.”</p> +<p>He sat down and placed his arm around +Marilla, drawing her nearer. Miss Armitage +had a little jealous pang.</p> +<p>“On the side of Marilla’s mother an old man +died recently who was nearly a hundred. He +had a sort of farm and an old house and lived +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_242' name='page_242'></a>242</span> +like a hermit with pigs and ducks and chickens. +He had six children, but they married and +went off. This is the fourth generation. +There was no will so they had to find all the +heirs in order to get a good deed to the property. +They traced Mrs. Bond and learned +she has left a child. They found the woman +who had kept her, but on her re-marriage she +had placed the child at Bethany Home, Newton. +So Mr. Lorimer, an old chum of mine +came to this place, as he is a member of the +firm settling the estate. We went out to the +Home—”</p> +<p>“How long ago?” asked Miss Armitage.</p> +<p>“Well, something over a fortnight. We +had a rather difficult time to persuade Mrs. +Johnson to give up the important papers. +She is very matter of fact and I suppose has +heard many a wild story that came to nothing. +You see she always keeps whatever comes with +a child until the girl is eighteen, when they +are given to her. We found old Doctor +Langdon who could substantiate everything +and who gave an affidavit, so they were to +proceed at once to a settlement. The city +has taken a strip for an avenue extension, and +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_243' name='page_243'></a>243</span> +they want a good deed. I heard from Lorimer +a few days ago, and he said that everything +was right, that he should be at Newton shortly +and wanted to see Marilla Bond.”</p> +<p>“And how much may this wonderful fortune +be?” The lady’s tone was slightly sarcastic. +“They are apt to shrink by payment +time.”</p> +<p>“Somewhere about ten thousand, I believe. +Not enough to make one a millionaire, but it +will educate her and give her some journeys +outside of fairy land,” laughing a little. “Perhaps +fairy godmother won’t send you adrift +for such an accident,” looking down in the +wondering eyes.</p> +<p>“The best fortune of all is fairy godmother.” +Marilla went around and kissed +her, clasped both her hands.</p> +<p>“When I heard from Lorimer that it was all +fair sailing I went out and called on Mrs. +Johnson. Well, you should have seen her! +She was quite set up on a pinnacle and declared +that she must write out the story. It +is as well I suppose that Newton should have +it first hand, and she will take most of the +glory. The Bordens will be surprised.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_244' name='page_244'></a>244</span></p> +<p>There was a touch of awkwardness in the +silence. Miss Armitage did not take kindly +to the fortune. She would rather have the +child owe everything to her. She had plenty +of money. It would be like a young sister +growing up beside her, for somehow she felt +curiously young. Marilla had a simple charming +grace that would render her very attractive. +Her perfect candor and honesty joined +with a peculiar fine reticence unusual in a +child had appealed strongly to Miss Armitage. +Even her gratitude had a winsome delicacy in +it, and it would be a gracious work to train her +in lovely womanly ways through the years to +come.</p> +<p>Did the child feel the subtle atmosphere?</p> +<p>“Fairy godmother, you will always be the +best thing in my life,” she said in a soft, sweet +tone. “In the summer when I was wondering +in that strange country and could not remember +much, I felt a sweet quiet when you came, +just as if some one found me and I was safe. +Oh, I had never loved any one so dearly. I +saw so little of my own mother and she was +always tired, fairy godmothers are different.”</p> +<p>The door bell rang. “That must be Lorimer,” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_245' name='page_245'></a>245</span> +said Dr. Richards and he reached the +hall just as Jane opened the door. Miss +Armitage let him greet his friend before she +rose.</p> +<p>“Can’t I bring him in here?” asked the +doctor.</p> +<p>“Oh, yes.”</p> +<p>“This room is my ideal, Lorimer. The +grate fire and the shelves of books give one an +immediate welcome. And allow me to present +you to the presiding genius, Miss +Armitage.”</p> +<p>It was indeed a charming home with an +atmosphere that penetrated one’s soul, and +they two looked as if they might have been +born in it, they impressed you as being a +subtle part of it. It was like a vision as Lorimer +was seating himself, and his eyes caught +the situation of the chess men.</p> +<p>“Some one made a false move,” he exclaimed, +laughing.</p> +<p>“Is the white queen in danger? I can’t +have her taken,” Marilla said breathlessly.</p> +<p>“Oh, are you on her side? If I had time +I’d rescue her. I suppose my friend here, the +doctor, has explained my errand—the rest +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_246' name='page_246'></a>246</span> +is—you are the little white queen and I am an +ogre come to capture you and take you away.”</p> +<p>“But I’m not going,” returned the child. +“When one has a fairy godmother one is +enchanted and the evil ogre is powerless.”</p> +<p>“Oh, is it that way? Then I must sue +humbly to the power above and present my +case, for indeed, if you didn’t want your fortune +you would stop the wheels of division and +perhaps be accused of contempt of court—which +you don’t know a word about. You are +quite a little heroine with your romantic +story, and I am charged to bring you into +court and prove you are Marilla Bond, entitled +to a slice of this pie they are going to serve.”</p> +<p>“Are there four and twenty black birds in +it?” she asked mirthfully.</p> +<p>“Oh, more than that, but there is no flaw in +your claim, and I have unearthed a delightful +relative for you, a cousin of your mother’s +with whom much of her early life was passed. +After her marriage they seemed to fall apart +as people often do, and she heard you were all +dead. She has three charming girls, fourteen, +eleven and seven. Mrs. Warren made me +promise to bring you direct to her; she is very +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_247' name='page_247'></a>247</span> +anxious to see you and will take good care of +you.”</p> +<p>Miss Armitage had a stunned sort of feeling. +There were relatives who might have a right +to her. She was no longer a waif for some +one’s charity.</p> +<p>“You will bring her back?” she said hurriedly.</p> +<p>“Oh, of course. They are not likely to make +her a ward in chancery as if she had a million. +Dr. Richards will be her guardian, you will +like that, won’t you?” smiling at her bright-eyed +watchfulness.</p> +<p>“I don’t quite know what a guardian is,” +doubtfully, glancing at her oldest friend, +“Mr. Borden never spoke of one.”</p> +<p>“That estate has not been settled yet,” remarked +the doctor. “A trustee might answer +for that.”</p> +<p>“A guardian is a person appointed to see +that you have a good home, and do not waste +your money, but I have heard of guardians +who wasted it for you. We shall have the +doctor bound securely, and you must have an +allowance for clothes and various needs, such +as ice cream and candy.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_248' name='page_248'></a>248</span></p> +<p>Marilla laughed then. It seemed amusing +and very delightful that the doctor should have +some real right to her.</p> +<p>“You have never been to New York?”</p> +<p>“Oh, no!” with a wonder in her tone.</p> +<p>“Then it will be a great treat. Can she be +ready by tomorrow morning?”</p> +<p>“Will she be really needed?”</p> +<p>“Oh, yes, tomorrow is set for the finishing of +her business; I must get back early. There is +a big fight on another estate. What an +amount of litigation money does make! This +has been clear sailing after we found all the +heirs and fenced out all those who had no +claim. Miss Marilla Bond, I congratulate +you, and I should really like to hear Mrs. +Johnson on the subject. Were you happy +there?”</p> +<p>“I liked it better at Mrs. Borden’s, but it is +best here,” she answered.</p> +<p>They branched off into several amusing +episodes. Miss Armitage ordered some coffee +and cake. Lorimer glanced at the chess men.</p> +<p>“Why were you on the side of the white +queen?” he asked.</p> +<p>“Because—because I chose her for Miss +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_249' name='page_249'></a>249</span> +Armitage, and nothing must happen to her.”</p> +<p>Oh! There was an earnest of love in the +beautiful eyes. She was a charming little +girl.</p> +<p>Then they made all arrangements; they +were to take the 8:10 train. “Could Marilla +be ready that early in the morning?”</p> +<p>“Yes,” was the rather reluctant answer.</p> +<p>They made their adieu. Lorimer thanked +her for a delightful evening.</p> +<p>“I suppose it’s all settled, old fellow! You +are lucky with the prospect of such a home and +such a presiding—shall I call her the goddess +of the hearth? That room is a perfect gem, +and you three people are to the manner born.”</p> +<p>“Not so fast if you please. It is outside of +my daily life, a place of rest and refreshing +where a pilgrim may pause now and then.”</p> +<p>“You two people are in love.”</p> +<p>“I am, I admit.”</p> +<p>“Then you are a dolt if you don’t go in and +win.”</p> +<p>“I asked her more than a year ago. She +gave me friendship. We are simply good +comrades in our work for the world.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_250' name='page_250'></a>250</span></p> +<p>“She doesn’t look like a woman whose heart +is buried in some one’s grave.”</p> +<p>“She has a foolish, insurmountable reason. +I am a few years her junior,” he said in a half +satiric tone. “And I have a reason that escaped +me then. She is rich and I am comparatively +poor.”</p> +<p>“Nonsense! There should never be anything +but pure love between the man and the +woman who are the complement of each other. +What a fascinating picture you three made! +And you both love the child. I’m glad she +is going to have a chance with education. +With those eyes she ought to be beyond the +ordinary.”</p> +<p>“Then she will be in good hands.”</p> +<p>“Al—you are an idiot. Some day you will +rue this shilly-shallying.”</p> +<p>Dr. Richards’ reply was an unmirthful +laugh, as if he was not rueing the mischance +all the time. But he was proud and would +not go back of his word.</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='CHAPTER_XIII_A_NEW_ATMOSPHERE' id='CHAPTER_XIII_A_NEW_ATMOSPHERE'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER XIII</h2> +<h3>A NEW ATMOSPHERE</h3> +</div> +<p>They came back to the sleepy grate fire. +Miss Armitage said—“You must go to bed +for you will have to be up early in the morning.”</p> +<p>“I shall only stay a little while,” as if she +had been musing over her journey. “Fairy +godmother why don’t you come, too?”</p> +<p>“Well, you see I was not asked, I am outside +of all this business.”</p> +<p>The voice was on the verge of a touch of +bitterness, though nature and endeavor had +made it sweet.</p> +<p>“Why, that’s funny. They did not know +how much I should want you. I’ll ask the +doctor in the morning. Oh, I wonder if I +shall like those little cousins?”</p> +<p>“No, dear, you must not speak of it. There +is nothing for me to do. Sometime we will +go to the city together and have a nice outing.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_252' name='page_252'></a>252</span></p> +<p>“Are you glad the doctor is going to be my +guardian, and—about the fortune?”</p> +<p>“You couldn’t have a better one.”</p> +<p>“Can’t women be guardians? But I’d +rather have you for a fairy godmother. No +one else in the whole wide world could be that, +you know. For the one in the dream wasn’t +truly alive. I don’t believe she could have +taken care of a sick body. Oh you are so +sweet! I love you! love you!”</p> +<p>Would the child always love her? She was +coming to the crucial years. She was very +fond and sincere now, but she had cause to be +grateful. She knew so little of the world, she +had a winsome charm that was unfolding every +day, she would be attractive to others. Jane +was her fervent admirer, Bridget adored her, +the babies capered around when they saw her +in a species of Indian dance.</p> +<p>Yes, she would win love, she would not be +dependent on her alone. Would there come +a time when she would flit from the wing of +fairy godmother and find her only an ordinary +friend?</p> +<p>There seemed a sudden dreariness in the +world like a bright day clouding over. It +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_253' name='page_253'></a>253</span> +ought not look so to a woman of five and +thirty with health and prosperity and plenty +of work that did interest her. Other orphan +girls might appeal to her to make their lonely +lives blossom with hope and happiness.</p> +<p>Yes, she must let her go with earnest +wishes for her future. She would rejoice in +whatever came to her and not ask all the +fragrance of the sweet young soul. So she +kissed Marilla a tender good-night.</p> +<p>There were tears in the child’s eyes when she +started on her journey. Mr. Lorimer met +them at the station with a beautiful box of +chocolates, and there was a pile of illustrated +papers. She had so little idea of money that +even now it was not to be weighed in the balance +with fairy godmother.</p> +<p>They passed through pretty towns but +autumn had stripped the gardens of their +beauty. Even the clumps of evergreens on +the lawns looked lonesome. She had never +gone through a gloomy tunnel before and was +a little frightened. Emerging from it the +great city filled her with wonder.</p> +<p>Then they took a hack. Oh, how full of +everything the streets were, pedestrians dodging +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_254' name='page_254'></a>254</span> +this way and that, vehicles in a snarl and +trolleys whizzing by. It was a miracle people +did not get run over.</p> +<p>They reached their destination and Lorimer +ushered them in a sort of ante room, taking +her to a lady who rose to greet them.</p> +<p>“And so this is cousin Marion’s little girl +who has been motherless for years! We heard +you were dead. If I had known you were +living I should have come for you. We were +very dear to each other but on her marriage +she went away. I can’t see that you resemble +her much except that she was fair and had +light curly hair, and how she did hate it!” +laughed Mrs. Warren.</p> +<p>“I like it,” rejoined Marilla.</p> +<p>“And she used to soap it and brush it and +would never let it really curl; but it was a bed +of waves. Oh, child! I’m glad to see you. I +was very fond of your mother, and though +our fortunes are not very large I suppose we +can be thankful for them. It was a great +surprise to me. You’re hardly old enough to +realize all its benefits.”</p> +<p>Lorimer went to see when their turn would +come. Mrs. Warren and the doctor talked +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_255' name='page_255'></a>255</span> +about Marilla. Then they were summoned +to a crowded room where men were signing +papers and there was such a hum of talking +it was like a swarm of bees.</p> +<p>Marilla held tightly to Mrs. Warren’s hand. +Dr. Richards was answering questions and a +man seemed to verify them from books and +papers. They had a corner to themselves. +Then Marilla was questioned about the Home +and her being bound-out and she had to declare +she was the same little girl, that her +mother and father were dead, that she had +always lived at Newton.</p> +<p>Then some papers were signed and she was +taken in a small room which was filled with +tall cases and a great business desk where sat +a sharp-eyed man. He wheeled around so +suddenly that she started.</p> +<p>“Don’t be frightened,” he said. “Is Dr. +Richards a relative? Do you live with him?”</p> +<p>“No, but he had been so good to her when +Miss Armitage had taken her in so she need +not go to the hospital. She had been bound-out +but the family could not take care of her. +Some one had just died.”</p> +<p>“Would she like Dr. Richards for her guardian? +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_256' name='page_256'></a>256</span> +Had any one told her she must have +him?”</p> +<p>“Oh, I want him, I love him,” and the +flood of eager joy in her sweet face answered +him as truly as the words.</p> +<p>He was curiously interested and drew her +out a little further, charmed with her simplicity.</p> +<p>Then Doctor Richards had to sign the bond +and they were dismissed. Mrs. Warren would +take her home, and her guardian would come +in the afternoon and take dinner with them +and meet Mr. Warren.</p> +<p>There were two trolley rides, then a walk +from the corner. The house was in a brick +row up on the East side with a little park opposite, +and the river only a block away.</p> +<p>The basement windows had tall iron bars +that suggested a prison to the child. They +ascended the high stoop and the hall door was +flung open while a chorus of eager voices +cried—</p> +<p>“Oh, is this the new cousin?”</p> +<p>“Yes, Marilla Bond. This is Edith, this +is May and this is our baby Jessie—” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_257' name='page_257'></a>257</span></p> +<p>“We were afraid you wouldn’t get here in +time. We had begun our lunch—”</p> +<p>“Run back dears, we will be down in a +minute.”</p> +<p>They kissed Marilla with sweet heartiness +that won her at once. Mrs. Warren took off +her wrap and hat and they went down. How +strange it was to have these girls smiling and +expressing delight.</p> +<p>“You’re going to keep her, mother?” declared +Edith.</p> +<p>“Oh yes, as long as her guardian will let her +stay. You will find her here when you come +back.”</p> +<p>“And wasn’t it funny to have a fortune +drop down on you? Mother could hardly +believe it at first, and then we were so glad to +find you.”</p> +<p>Marilla glanced up with a smile, but she +wanted to cry for very joy.</p> +<p>Then they kissed her again and ran off to +school.</p> +<p>“Were there any children where you lived?”</p> +<p>“Not at Miss Armitage’s. That was where +I was ill. She took me in, but I had to go back +to Mrs. Borden’s when I was strong enough. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_258' name='page_258'></a>258</span> +And then an old lady died and I fainted again +and the doctor said it was something with the +heart, and they had to take a bigger girl. +Then I went to Miss Armitage again. She is +so dear and sweet. I want to stay there always.”</p> +<p>“You poor child! You see we were in +Western New York when your mother died +and we didn’t hear of it in a long while. We +should not have let you go to that Home. +Were they good to you?”</p> +<p>“Well, you see some of the children were +not very good, and they only gave you so +much to eat. Sometimes you felt real hungry. +I tried to be good for I didn’t like to be +punished,” she said naively. “You had to +scrub floors and learn psalms, when you didn’t +get whipped. I liked the hymns, only they +were not always sweet and pretty, and we +went in school at nine and had one little recess. +Then after dinner, and school until four, and +if you missed you had to stay in. You sewed +half an hour then and could play out of doors +until six, then you had supper and went to +bed.”</p> +<p>“What kind of sewing was it?” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_259' name='page_259'></a>259</span></p> +<p>“Oh, you hemmed towels and sheets and +pillow cases, and mended. The little girls +couldn’t, so you had to look after their things, +and darn their stockings. On Saturday afternoon +one of the teachers took you out walking +but it was in the woods and the country. All +the girls were <i>so</i> glad when they were twelve +or almost, so they could get away. Mrs. +Johnson was very sharp.”</p> +<p>“And the lady you went to live with?”</p> +<p>“Oh she was very nice; and her sister. There +was a boy of five and twin babies—”</p> +<p>“You didn’t have to take care of the +babies?”</p> +<p>“Only to play with them and amuse them. +They were very fat and Mrs. Borden didn’t +like me to lift them. Then I used to wheel +them in their carriage. I liked that only when +it was very cold—or hot. The stores were so +pretty, and you met other girls. I used to +read the books in the windows; Jack had lots +of books. I used to show the pictures to the +babies and tell them stories and they would +laugh so, just as if they understood it all. +They were very good and merry, but it was a +long while before they could walk, they were +so fat.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_260' name='page_260'></a>260</span></p> +<p>“How did she come to let you go?”</p> +<p>“It was one very hot day—and somehow I +was so dreadfully tired all the time, I sat down +on a stoop—it was a beautiful, shady street +with great trees, and most everybody had gone +away. The babies were not very well and a +little cross. You had to be doing things all +the while, and—I don’t know what happened, +but I fell off the stoop and some one picked +me up and then Miss Armitage who lived opposite +came over and had me taken to her +house and for a long while I just seemed in +the dark and didn’t know anything. It was +then that Dr. Richards came. They were all +so good, and it was like being in heaven. The +Bordens had gone to Long Island and the +babies were very sick getting some teeth, and +they wanted me, I was bound, you know, so +I had to go as soon as I was well enough. +Part of it was very nice; the babies could walk +then. After we came back”—she made a +little pause for she had not even told Dr. +Richards Jack’s part in the mishap—“I fainted +one day. Their old aunt was ill and she wanted +me, so I went and—it was dreadful—she +died and I fainted again. Then Miss Armitage +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_261' name='page_261'></a>261</span> +came and took me home with her. Mrs. +Borden took a new nursemaid, a grown up +woman and was willing to let me go, and these +other things happened. Oh, I want to stay +always with Miss Armitage.”</p> +<p>“You poor little girl! I think you have had +a rather hard time. What does Dr. Richards +say?”</p> +<p>“The other doctor said I had a weak heart. +Does that make you faint away? It’s almost +like dying—you don’t seem to know anything +for a long while, and it is very hard to get +back.”</p> +<p>“You have been worked pretty hard I +guess.” How simply the child had told her +story. “But now life will be better. I am +very glad this little fortune has come to you, +and now I am going up stairs a few moments, +and you may look over the books on the table. +I will soon be back.”</p> +<p>Instead Marilla looked about the room. +The front one was the parlor, very nicely furnished. +The back one shut off the end of the +hall. There were three French windows reaching +to the floor, the last one being a door leading +out to an enclosed porch with windows +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_262' name='page_262'></a>262</span> +that would be very pleasant in summer. +There was only a small yard with a tiny grass +plot and an alleyway running through at the +back.</p> +<p>There was a big book case in one recess, a +lounge, a Morris chair and a substantial +center table containing books and papers. +It had a home-like, well used look, with several +cosy rocking chairs.</p> +<p>Mrs. Warren returned with some sewing and +without evincing undue curiosity led Marilla +to talk of her past, though the child really +knew very little about her mother and seemed +to have no tender or regretful regard for this +Mrs. Jaques. But her whole heart went out +to Miss Armitage in something like worship.</p> +<p>The girls came home and in a short time +they were all friends. It seemed odd to them +that Marilla had never been to a real school. +Jessie was in the kindergarten, but would +enter the primary in February. May was +there and Edith hoped to get in the High +School another year. Then they carried her +off to their play room. This was the hall bedroom +on the next floor. There was a small +book case, a sort of closet with glass doors +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_263' name='page_263'></a>263</span> +where playthings were kept and one shelf +devoted to dolls. Marilla stood entranced +before it.</p> +<p>“Have you many dolls?” asked May.</p> +<p>“I never had a doll since my mama died,” +and there were tears in the child’s voice.</p> +<p>“But at Christmas—didn’t you ever get a +doll?”</p> +<p>“I was in a home for orphan girls, Mrs. +Johnson didn’t think it was right for girls +to waste their time on dolls. One Christmas +some store sent such a beautiful lot and she +returned them all. Some of us cried and we +had to learn a lot of bible verses about improving +your time. Occasionally a girl would +get a clothes pin and tie the middle of her +handkerchief around the head, and play it +was a baby, and lend it out, then they would +all get punished. I used to feel so sorry. +Dolls are so sweet if they are only make believe. +Where I lived the babies had rubber +dolls that they could bang on the floor, but +they were ugly. This one is splendid.”</p> +<p>“That is mine,” said Edith. “One of our +cousins brought it from Paris. It can walk a +little and say ‘Mama.’ I’m too big to play +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_264' name='page_264'></a>264</span> +with dolls, and I’ve given the others to May +and Jessie.”</p> +<p>“And we play tea with them. It is so +lovely out on the back porch in the summer and +mother lets us take the things down there. +And I can make clothes,” said May. “But +now you can have a doll, because you are +going to have some money of your very own.”</p> +<p>“Yes,” she returned slowly.</p> +<p>There were many pretty things that Marilla +wondered at. Edith took out her doll and +put it in the visitor’s arms. It had such a +lovely face that Marilla hugged it up tight and +wanted to kiss it. Why it was fifty times +sweeter than the twins.</p> +<p>Then they led her to their room. There +were two pretty brass beds.</p> +<p>“Edith has the smaller one because she +sleeps alone,” explained May, “and we little +ones love to sleep together.”</p> +<p>There were two chiffoniers, and a big closet +between the rooms, two pretty willow rockers +and some lovely pictures beside various small +gifts one could hang up or stand around. +How charming it was!</p> +<p>Edith said she must go and study her lessons. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_265' name='page_265'></a>265</span> +May brought out her pretty dishes and +her card albums. One was partly full of such +pretty kittens Marilla wanted to hug them. +Another was Christmas, Easter and birthday +cards.</p> +<p>Marilla gave a soft little sigh. How many +precious things she had missed out of her life! +And though she could not have put it into +words it was the tender companionship of +childhood, of kindred tastes and eager loves. +In the desert of Bethany Home all these +emotions had been rigorously repressed. It +was best for girls not to expect too much in the +homes of other people, the little Cinderella +whose place was in the chimney corner.</p> +<p>“Marilla,” called the voice of Mrs. Warren, +in a sort of joyous tone, “Dr. Richards has +come.”</p> +<p>She almost flew down stairs and he clasped +her in his arms.</p> +<p>“I am so happy,” she cried in a voice tremulous +with emotion. “It seems such a long, +long while since morning so much has happened, +and Mrs. Warren is to be my Aunt +Grace, she said so, and I have three cousins!”</p> +<p>Her face was alight with happiness. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_266' name='page_266'></a>266</span></p> +<p>“I wonder if you would get homesick if we +did not go back to Newton until some time +next week?”</p> +<p>“Oh, no. I shouldn’t get homesick at all! +But I couldn’t stay away from fairy godmother +a <i>long</i> while. If I didn’t have her, Aunt +Grace would take me, and the girls are just +splendid!”</p> +<p>“I’ve been to a hospital this afternoon and +I want to learn some new things to take home +with me, so I will write. You must write, too. +I’ve brought you some envelopes addressed and +stamped. Why do you smile?”</p> +<p>“I was thinking of the letter I wrote to you +in the summer, and I had to beg everything to +write with, and Edith has such a nice portable +writing desk, and the girls have portfolios, +and they all go to school. Oh, it must be +splendid to go to school with a crowd of nice +girls and have a lovely teacher.”</p> +<p>She had been leading him through the parlor. +Mrs. Warren met them and he went +on in the sitting room, apologizing for his +early appearance.</p> +<p>“Oh, I want you to come in and see your +ward whenever you can, and I shall beg for +quite a visit from her.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_267' name='page_267'></a>267</span></p> +<p>“That will suit me. I feel that I have +grown a little rusty and want to look into some +new methods. What a wonderful city it is! +It quite shames a country doctor.”</p> +<p>“I suppose so,” smiling. “You should come +in often. Mr. Warren will be home presently +and glad to meet you. Will you excuse me a +few moments? This is my eldest daughter, +Edith.”</p> +<p>“And can’t the others come?” asked Marilla.</p> +<p>“Why, yes, if you like.”</p> +<p>Dr. Richards was used to children. He +thought he liked girls the best, and this was +an attractive circle. How Marilla was enjoying +it. Her eyes quivered with flashes of +pleasure. Yes, children needed other children +to start the real flow of delight through +their veins, and his little Cinderella did not +suffer by comparison.</p> +<p>Mr. Warren came in and welcomed his +guest cordially, looking over the little girl +about whom they had speculated. She was +very attractive just now, with her face of +sunshine and her eyes with their starry look +under the long curling lashes. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_268' name='page_268'></a>268</span></p> +<p>The men had to discuss the queer unexpected +fortune. The Warrens had been notified +nearly a year before.</p> +<p>“But I hadn’t much faith in it,” laughed +Mr. Warren. “My wife had really forgotten +her family lineage, and we should hardly have +claimed the Schermerhorns. There’s so much +red tape in these matters and by the time the +expenses are paid, there’s little left for the +heirs, but this turns out better than I supposed, +considering the many descendants the old +man had. I can’t complain of the lawyers.”</p> +<p>“And we were very glad to find Marion’s +child, though I wish I had known it when her +mother died. Do you want to keep her at +Newton?”</p> +<p>“I think Miss Armitage has some claims,” +he returned.</p> +<p>“And I feel as if we ought to make up for +our negligence.”</p> +<p>The children were in a little huddle on the +corner of the sofa. What was Newton like? +A real city?</p> +<p>“Why there are some beautiful long streets +and stores and churches and a park and rows +of houses built together like this, and schools +and trolleys—” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_269' name='page_269'></a>269</span></p> +<p>“Why it must be a city then?” said Edith. +“Has it a mayor and a city hall and a postoffice?”</p> +<p>“It has a mayor and a postoffice and a court +house. Mr. Borden used to talk of going +there.”</p> +<p>“It is a very old town,” explained the guardian, +“dating farther back than the Revolution, +yet it was not much of a business center +until the last thirty years; but it is very pretty +and rather aristocratic.”</p> +<p>“Children,” said their mother, “go and make +yourselves ready for dinner.”</p> +<p>“What lovely curly hair,” exclaimed May, +half in envy. “I wish mine curled.”</p> +<p>“But you have two such beautiful braids.” +“Jessie’s curled a little but it was so thin +mother kept cutting it. Dear me! You +wouldn’t catch me soaping and brushing the +curl out of it if mine curled,” declared May.</p> +<p>They had a rather merry time at dinner and +the children did not seem a bit afraid to talk, +though they were not aggressive. But Dr. +Richards thought his little ward compared +very favorably with the others. Her daintiness +suggested Miss Armitage, he fancied. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_270' name='page_270'></a>270</span></p> +<p>They sat a long while over their dessert of +fruit and nuts, and then the guest said he +would have to go as he wanted to attend a +lecture by an eminent surgeon. He would be +in tomorrow morning.</p> +<p>“I thought I would take Marilla out shopping +with me. Come in to dinner again +and spend the whole evening.”</p> +<p>Dr. Richards promised to.</p> +<p>The others went up to the sitting room. +Mr. Warren took possession of the big Morris +chair, May had one knee, Jessie the other and +Edith seated herself on the broad arm and +placed her arm over her father’s shoulder. +They always exacted an hour of their father +and he gave it with the utmost fondness.</p> +<p>“And here is a place for you, little Marilla,” +he said. “Now the chair is full. I’ve wondered +sometimes if Edith wouldn’t tip us +over.”</p> +<p>“I’d have to be as fat as Auntie Belle to do +that,” she laughed, “and now papa I want +Marilla to tell you about a queer Home she +was put in where they wouldn’t let the little +girls have dolls nor playthings, and they +made dollies out of clothes pins and had to +hide them.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_271' name='page_271'></a>271</span></p> +<p>“That was cruel to little girls. Why they +have dolls by right and no one should prevent +them. Didn’t you play any?”</p> +<p>“Oh yes, out of doors, tag and Uncle John +and Scotland’s burning, and Lady Jane, and +Ring around a Rosy; and then in summer you +had to pull weeds in the garden. When it +rained you had to march in doors, but if you +tried to dance a little you had to go and sit +down. Oh, they were very strict.”</p> +<p>“And what else did you do?”</p> +<p>“All the bigger girls made the beds and +twice a week brushed up the floors, and every +little while you went in the kitchen for a week +and helped with the cooking so you would +know how to work. When you were twelve +they bound you out and you had to stay until +you were eighteen.”</p> +<p>“But didn’t you study any?”</p> +<p>“Oh, yes, there was school every day.”</p> +<p>“And did <i>you</i> get bound-out?”</p> +<p>“Yes.” She flushed a little.</p> +<p>“But you did not stay?”</p> +<p>“Oh, tell papa about the babies,” cried +Edith. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_272' name='page_272'></a>272</span></p> +<p>“And did you ever notice the Campbell’s +soup little girl with her round eyes?”</p> +<p>“Who gets fat on eating soup? Yes,” and +he laughed.</p> +<p>“They looked something like that,” said +Marilla. “They were so fat and they had such +round eyes, and you could make them laugh +so easily. I went to take care of them and +amuse them, but they were so good, they +hardly ever cried, and I used to ride them +round—they had such a beautiful wagon! +But sometimes it seemed so heavy, it had to +be big, you know, and then there was Jack. +He wasn’t very good, but after awhile he went +to kindergarten.”</p> +<p>“But how did you get away if you were +bound?”</p> +<p>She told the story very simply and how a +lovely lady took her in and she was ill a long +while, and she knew this was a fairy godmother, +so she always called her that, +because—</p> +<p>“Because what?”</p> +<p>“It was a curious dream I had. Bridget +said it was a dream; but it seemed so real, and +I was Cinderella.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_273' name='page_273'></a>273</span></p> +<p>“Oh, do tell us!” they pleaded.</p> +<p>“I am afraid it’s silly,” and she flushed.</p> +<p>“Cinderella is lovely, and did you see the +Prince?”</p> +<p>They all looked so eager that she was persuaded. +So she began by sitting in the corner +of the kitchen and they listened as if they were +enchanted. She was so vivid it seemed as if +her face was transfigured. Mrs. Warren +dropped her sewing and bent forward.</p> +<p>Edith drew a long breath and squeezed the +new cousin’s hand. “Oh” she cried, “it’s +lovelier than the real Cinderella, and you +danced with the Prince? Can you dance—truly?”</p> +<p>“Oh, yes, after that, I used to dance for +Bridget. Mrs. Johnson wouldn’t let you, she +thought it wicked. It’s queer how people +think about things, and I danced for the babies. +Mrs. Borden and her sister went to +dancing parties; they didn’t think it wrong. +It’s so beautiful.”</p> +<p>“Our cousins Isabel and Charlie Firth go to +dancing school. Mother thinks I may go next +winter. They are teaching it in some schools.”</p> +<p>“Children,” said Mrs. Warren, “do you +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_274' name='page_274'></a>274</span> +know what time it is? You must go to bed. +Marilla you have betwitched us all. And +papa will have hardly time to read his paper. +Come. Marilla will not run away, so you can +have her tomorrow night.”</p> +<p>Mr. Warren kissed all the little girls and +they trooped off.</p> +<p>“You may sleep on the lounge in my room, +Edith, and give Marilla your bed, I can’t send +her up stairs alone, and now you must not say +a word after your prayers for I know she is +clear tired out.”</p> +<p>They were generally very good children to +mind. Their mother left them with a good-night +kiss. Mr. Warren had rolled his chair +nearer the center table and taken up his +paper.</p> +<p>“Mother,” he exclaimed, “that Marilla is an +unusual child. How beautifully she describes +everything, but the sweetest trait about her +is her utter lack of bitterness. Most children +would have been sharp and disparaging +about Mrs. Johnson, but she never uttered a +bitter word. It really was wonderful. I +hope that Dr. Richards will give her a first-class +education, and I’d like to see that fairy +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_275' name='page_275'></a>275</span> +godmother. Marilla needs good care, she +isn’t very strong, but there is happiness in +every pulse of her small body. I wish we could +keep her.”</p> +<p>The next morning the children had to kiss +her half a dozen times before they went to +school, and make her promise over and over +again that she would not let Dr. Richards +take her home. While Mrs. Warren was doing +up her morning’s work Marilla wrote her +letter to Miss Armitage, who smiled over the +thrill of delight that ran through it. Aunt +Grace was so sweet and lovely and she couldn’t +describe the girls for she didn’t know any +words that were beautiful enough and good +enough to apply to them. Jessie was a real +little beauty with the most wonderful eyes +that were like brown velvet and sunshine, and +she didn’t know father’s could be so sweet as +Uncle Warren. Maybe Mr. Borden would +love the twins that way when they grew older. +They might be prettier then. But her dear +fairy godmother lived in her mind all the +time, she wanted her to see and hear everything. +There would be so much to tell her +that she couldn’t write. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_276' name='page_276'></a>276</span></p> +<p>It was a wonderful day to Marilla. Such +splendid stores and gowns that were fit for +queens. Such beautiful dishes and jewelry, +such stacks of books; and, oh, such dolls holding +out their hands with a pleading look in their +eyes. She could hardly tear herself away. +Was she too big to have a doll?</p> +<p>Then they went into a cozy place and had a +dainty lunch, only it did seem as if Marilla +was too happy to eat. If fairy godmother +were only here!</p> +<p>Afterward they went to the Eden Musee. +You had to ride from place to place; why, it was +full of strange people who never stirred. They +could not be dead! What <i>was</i> the matter +with them? The wonder in her eyes made +Mrs. Warren smile. Some were funny, too; +you wanted to laugh with them. Marilla sat +down in perfect despair as if she had gone to +some strange country.</p> +<p>“I don’t see how they can make them just +like folks,” she said. “You feel almost sure +they are going to speak to you.”</p> +<p>A very tired little girl it was who came home, +but it was such a pleasant, happy tired she +didn’t mind. It wasn’t like dragging the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_277' name='page_277'></a>277</span> +heavy babies around. Aunt Grace made her +lie down on the lounge and the girls gathered +round her talking it over. They had been +several times.</p> +<p>Then Dr. Richards came in and they had +such a delightful time. Why the whole +world of pleasure was fairy land when you +come to think of it. “And there’s the Hippodrome,” +said Edith. “Oh mother don’t you +believe father could take us on Saturday?”</p> +<p>“And couldn’t I go, too?”</p> +<p>The doctor asked in such a whimsical tone +that they all laughed. Jessie sidled up to +him, she was well so she need not be afraid of +a doctor. She was very sweet but she wasn’t +quite Cinderella.</p> +<p>What a fine evening they had! It seemed +as if they must have known each other for +years. Bits of Marilla’s life came out unconsciously; +the doing for others without +thinking of herself that really did glorify it. +Unwittingly she showed more of it to Dr. +Richards than she had ever before in her gratitude. +Under the children’s questions some +of the trials came out.</p> +<p>Every morning she wrote to Miss Armitage +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_278' name='page_278'></a>278</span> +out of her full heart, and the lady understood +how she would thrive in natural companionship. +Almost she felt as if she ought to yield +her to these relatives, but she wanted her. It +was strange how she had left her impress everywhere +yet she was a very modest little girl, +demanding nothing, taking all favors with a +gratitude that was fascinating. Jane rehearsed +so many pretty sayings and missed +her everywhere. Bridget came around to +hear whether the story of the fortune was +absolutely true. The Bordens could hardly +believe it. Mr. John Borden wished they had +not let her go quite so soon. “She certainly +was a nice child,” he said.</p> +<p>They went to the great stores and to Central +Park, and Marilla overflowed with happiness. +Why it was like the fairy dream, and she +wished the girls at the Home could have some +of it, or could find a fairy godmother. There +were so many things to interest the doctor. +How the days did slip away and all the time +Marilla grew sweeter, dearer; but at last he +said they <i>must</i> go home.</p> +<p>“Oh, how can we let you go?” cried Edith. +“Why I do believe you came from fairy land +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_279' name='page_279'></a>279</span> +yourself; but now you’ll come and visit us +often.”</p> +<p>“And you can come to Newton. Fairy +godmother has such a lovely house, and she +is so sweet. You will like her.”</p> +<p>Oh, the child ought not be on sufferance +but have the genial freedom of a home of her +very own where she could live over the childhood +she had missed and learn the glad inspiration +of youth.</p> +<p>What did Miss Armitage mean to do for +her? Yes, she wanted her; why there would +be a great loss in life without her, but she no +longer needed charity. She could not do +everything for her; as she had planned. Would +she share a divided interest?</p> +<p>Dr. Richards heart yearned over her, coveted +her. Marilla had crept in and taken possession +of his inmost soul. It was not likely +there would be any other occupant. For he +had never seen any sign of relenting on Miss +Armitage’s part. They were excellent friends. +Neither overstepped the prescribed bounds, +and he must have something to love and to +cherish.</p> +<p>But he had to tear himself away presently, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_280' name='page_280'></a>280</span> +and he carried her with him in his heart, and +the next morning he dropped in and had her +all to himself. Mrs. Warren had gone to the +dressmakers.</p> +<p>“Oh,” Marilla said with a long sigh of delight, +“how lovely it is to have sisters! and—and +a father! If I couldn’t have but one I +think I’d take the father. Isn’t Mr. Warren +just splendid and sweet and charming? There’s +a book of poems at Miss Armitage’s that has +one such beautiful thing—‘The Children’s +Hour.’ And they have it here. The hour +after dinner if there are no visitors belongs to +the children. The smaller ones take possession +of his lap and Edith sits on the arm of the +chair. I sat on the other,” and she laughed +with such a happy sound. “And they tell +him everything, what they have read and +studied, and the little troubles and differences +and perplexities, and he listens and explains +and laughs with them when it is funny, and +everything is so nice. I didn’t suppose fathers +could be so dear and sweet, but I never +knew any real father except Mr. Borden, and +Jack was a torment. He wanted to pound +and bang and wrinkle up things and ask silly +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_281' name='page_281'></a>281</span> +questions. Maybe the twins will be different, +and perhaps he will love girls the best.”</p> +<p>“And you would like to have a father?” +There was a subtle sweetness in his tone.</p> +<p>She drew a long breath, he felt the heart +quiver irregularly, the little heart that would +need careful watching the next few years, that +so far had been worked pretty hard.</p> +<p>“Oh, so much!” There was an exquisite +longing and a sound as of a prayer, “but you +know I’d want some one I could love.”</p> +<p>She was ready to give, not take all.</p> +<p>“Marilla, would I do?”</p> +<p>She raised her head and looked at him out +of longing, pleading eyes that turned joyous +like a sudden glowing sunrise.</p> +<p>“Oh!” she cried, “Oh!”</p> +<p>But the wonderful satisfying intonation +would have moved any heart.</p> +<p>“And I want a little girl,” he continued. +“I shall never have one of my very own;”—it +is the way a man thinks when he knows he +cannot have the woman he would choose for +the mother of his children.</p> +<p>She was silent. He saw the shining tears +beading the curly lashes. She was sorry for +him. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_282' name='page_282'></a>282</span></p> +<p>“And if you could be <i>my</i> little girl—”</p> +<p>“Oh, if I might!” and the longing freighted +her tone. “If I could be good enough—if I +could love you enough. Oh, I <i>would</i> try. I +should be so happy. To have a father of one’s +own!”</p> +<p>“Children are sometimes adopted.”</p> +<p>“Yes, they were at Bethany Home, but +they had to be very pretty, I’m not—very.”</p> +<p>“But I love you because you are <i>you</i>, I don’t +want you changed any way. I want a daughter +to be a companion as I grow older, to read +to me, to confide in me, to come to me in any +trouble, to make a real home, for a man alone +cannot do that, and to love me very, very +dearly.”</p> +<p>“I have always loved you,” she said simply. +Then after a moment—“would I live with +you?”</p> +<p>“Yes, when I have found a pretty home, +and you will make friends and have them +visit you, and we will take journeys and have +pleasures like the Warrens.”</p> +<p>“Oh! How good you are!” in a tone of +tremulous joy. There was a little twinge of +conscience in both hearts concerning Miss +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_283' name='page_283'></a>283</span> +Armitage. He salved his, thinking if she had +wanted to she might have made some proffer +of adoption. Marilla hardly knew how to +choose between them. If they could both go +and live in Loraine place!</p> +<p>“I’ll see Lorimer this afternoon. You have +to apply to the legislature, and you will have +your name changed to Richards. Maybe the +judge or some will one question you whether +you are willing to take me for a father, since +you are old enough to choose, and there are +several formalities, but the thing is often done, +and you will be mine, mine,” pressing her to +his heart in rapture.</p> +<p>“I am so glad.” Every pulse throbbed +with joy.</p> +<p>He yielded to the subtle satisfaction and +kissed the sweet mouth. Oh, he must get +her strong and well and give her a lovely, +long life! Like a vision he could see her +growing sweeter and dearer every year, making +life blossom with her love.</p> +<p>Then Mrs. Warren returned and the girls +came home to lunch, having a merry time +talking over the Hippodrome.</p> +<p>“Nearly every Saturday papa takes us +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_284' name='page_284'></a>284</span> +somewhere,” said May. “There are some +beautiful plays for children and concerts and +all summer the park is splendid, though you +can always go inside and there is so much to +see; and an automobile ride! Oh, I wish you +were going to live here!”</p> +<p>There were so many pleasures to give his +little girl. It made his heart beat with joy to +think he was going to have one. Life had +seemed a bit lonely as he glanced down the +years. It would never be lonely now. He +would take such pleasure in making her happy.</p> +<p>“Yes,” he went on. “I’ll get a pretty home +and we will always be together.”</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='CHAPTER_XIV_THE_REAL_FAIRYLAND' id='CHAPTER_XIV_THE_REAL_FAIRYLAND'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER XIV</h2> +<h3>THE REAL FAIRYLAND</h3> +</div> +<p>That evening the two cousins on the Warren +side came in, Isabel and Willis Firth. Isabel +was just the age of Edith and Willis, older. +The children gave up their hour cheerfully. +There was so much to talk about, and the +school was going to have an entertainment—“The +Dance of All Nations.”</p> +<p>“I suppose not quite <i>all</i>,” said Isabel, +“though the boys are to give an Indian dance +in costume, and the Dutch dance is in clogs, +and oh, you can’t imagine how funny and +clumpy it sounds, but it is real pretty with the +aprons and the caps, but the Spanish is beautiful +with castanets. You must all come. +Is your friend staying long?”</p> +<p>“I think”—rather hesitatingly, “we will go +home next week.”</p> +<p>“Oh, that will be too bad, and the dance +is to be two weeks from tomorrow, in the afternoon, +in a hall. It will be splendid!”</p> +<p>“I suppose this is the little cousin who came +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_286' name='page_286'></a>286</span> +after the fortune,” said Willis, “isn’t it nice to +have a fortune left to you?”</p> +<p>“I hardly know”—hesitatingly.</p> +<p>“Oh my! I’d know quick enough,” laughed +the boy. “Isabel wouldn’t it be fine enough +to have ten or twelve thousand left to us? +I’d be sure of going to college.”</p> +<p>“The University ought to be good enough +for city boys,” said Uncle Warren.</p> +<p>They played authors for a while “because +they could talk” Willis said. Then Aunt +Warren played for them to dance. At first +Marilla hesitated.</p> +<p>“Oh, it’s only three-step” exclaimed Edith. +“I’ll show you, and if you danced at the +King’s ball––”</p> +<p>She found she could dance easy enough. It +was quite delightful. Her eyes were bright, +her cheeks like roses.</p> +<p>Then they tried several other pretty dances, +and spiced them with much laughter. Oh, how +gay they were.</p> +<p>“Who was it said something about the +King’s ball?” asked Willis. “Was it a make +believe?”</p> +<p>“Oh it is the prettiest thing!” replied Edith. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_287' name='page_287'></a>287</span></p> +<p>“You see, Cousin Marilla sat alone in the +kitchen one night when the maid had gone out +and a fairy godmother came and asked her +if she didn’t want to go to the ball. Finding +her in the kitchen you see she took her for +Cinderella, and she touched her with her +wand—now Marilla, go on, I couldn’t tell it +half as delightfully as you do; you make it so +real.”</p> +<p>Manila’s face had been scarlet at first, for +she was almost ashamed of being a little +bound-out girl before these newcomers, but +Edith had started it so beautifully that she +smiled at her audience.</p> +<p>“Let’s sit on the floor,” said Willis. “That’s +the way they do in Persia, and Aunt Grace +never finds fault with us.”</p> +<p>They gathered around the little girl. Even +Uncle Warren laid down his paper and joined +the circle. And what an attentive audience!</p> +<p>“Well that’s just fine!” ejaculated Willis. +“I’ve never seen just such a Cinderella, and +there wasn’t any glass slipper?”</p> +<p>“Don’t interrupt,” said his sister.</p> +<p>It was all so vivid and Marilla made such +pretty gestures with her hands and swayed +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_288' name='page_288'></a>288</span> +her head to and fro, that they could fairly see +the palace, and the banquet was superb with +its lights and flowers and beautiful adornments.</p> +<p>“And couldn’t they dance but just one +evening with the Prince? That was rather +tough.”</p> +<p>“But there was so many knights and the +Cinderellas seemed just as happy. No one +was cross.”</p> +<p>“Well, that was wonderful! Oh, didn’t +you hate to wake up?”</p> +<p>“I don’t believe I did really wake up, and +every night for awhile I seemed dreaming it +over, and I can shut my eyes and see it so +plainly. When things didn’t go quite right +it was such a pleasure.”</p> +<p>“Oh, you’re a darling!” cried Isabel. “I +just wish the kindergarten children could hear +it told that way. If you were a grown-up girl +they’d pay you for telling stories.”</p> +<p>“Aunt Grace can’t you bring her around and +let mother hear that?” asked Willis. “My +mother is so fat she hates to go out anywhere,” +to Marilla. “She thinks it disgraceful! But +she’s a sweet mother for all that; and now we +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_289' name='page_289'></a>289</span> +must go home. Thank you a hundred times +for the story. When I have my party I shall +send for you and dance with you every other +time. You ought to be named Cinderella.”</p> +<p>She looked so bright and happy and promised +to visit them if Dr. Richards did not take +her home too soon.</p> +<p>But the Hippodrome was beyond any +dream. Sometimes she held her breath with +delight until she was fairly tired. Dr. Richards +watched the sweet, changeful face. Yes, +she should be all his—why he had never +dreamed of anything half as sweet as the joy +of a father.</p> +<p>Sunday afternoon he and Mr. Lorimer came +in. The girls had gone to Sunday School. +He laid his plan before the Warrens who were +a good deal surprised.</p> +<p>“As a man grows older he begins to think of +a home and the joys nothing else offers, and +a doctor really needs the comfort, the satisfaction +nothing else can give. I’ve never had +a home though I’ve dreamed of one, but there +must be another person in it. I’m not of the +hermit sort. I want some one to be merry +with me and to comfort me when the skies are +dark and lowering.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_290' name='page_290'></a>290</span></p> +<p>“Oh, Dr. Richards, you should marry,” exclaimed +Mrs. Warren, impetuously.</p> +<p>“I’ve been so engrossed—and this sort of +vision has come to my very door as it were, +and I have let it in. For a few years Marilla +will need watchful care from some one who +can understand the weak points. I should get +a nice, motherly woman who would be sweet +and tender to her, companionable as well. +For you see she must go to some one for a +home.”</p> +<p>“And we would gladly take her in here,” said +Mrs. Warren. “She has really won our +hearts.”</p> +<p>He would do Miss Armitage full justice, +at least he thought it so then. He related her +kindness, her generosity, but she had been +tender and sympathetic to many another +child he remembered, yet he could not quite +still the one cry he had heard from her.</p> +<p>“Thank you most sincerely,” he returned. +“I am glad she has found some relatives who +have taken her in in this cordial manner. I +want her to remain warm friends with you all. +Of course until I was settled to my liking her +home would be with Miss Armitage and she +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_291' name='page_291'></a>291</span> +could come whenever you would like to have +her. A young girl needs friends of her own +kind, whose interests and hopes are similar.”</p> +<p>They discussed the matter from more than +one point of view. At first Lorimer had tried +to banter him out of the plan, insisting that the +guardianship would be sufficient. There was +something in his earnest desire that touched +the heart of the man of wide experience. He +wondered why he could not be as persistent +to win the lady! Perhaps she would follow +the child.</p> +<p>She came in radiant and full of joy. It was +such a splendid Sunday School. She could +enjoy it thoroughly with no bothering Jack to +think about.</p> +<p>Lorimer made his adieu but the doctor remained. +They sang in the evening. She +caught any tune so readily, and a little bird of +joy kept time in her heart. She had only to +glance up in the doctor’s eyes to know there +was a kindred delight in his.</p> +<p>She spent most of the next morning writing +to fairy godmother. There was so much to +say, for everything was so new, so different +from her life hitherto. Oh, she was so glad +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_292' name='page_292'></a>292</span> +she did not have to go back to that! No one +had been really unkind or severe with her and +she could recall some tenderness at the last +on Aunt Hetty’s part, but the death always +made her shudder.</p> +<p>These days of affliction had been so sweet, so +engrossing. She had not dared to love Miss +Armitage in this fashion in the beginning. +She loved her deeply, truly, now, and her heart +smote her in spite of the thrill of joy when she +thought of Dr. Richard’s love, of belonging to +him. Would she leave her for the new love? +She had not the courage to mention it, but +there were so many other things to say.</p> +<p>Every day brought something new. They +went to the wonderful museum. She could +not take in half, but Dr. Richards said no one +could. You came time and again, all your +life, and always found something new. And +there were the Historical Society rooms with +their marvellous collection of birds that enchanted +her.</p> +<p>They spent a delightful evening at the +Firths, though she decided she liked Uncle +Warren the better. The Firth house was very +handsomely appointed, but it did not have so +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_293' name='page_293'></a>293</span> +much the air of home where you could sit on +the arm of the chair and say all manner of +childish things.</p> +<p>Mrs. Firth was very stout, but she had a +really pretty face and a voice that won you +with a certain caressing mellowness. Both +cheeks had a deep dimple and a crease went +from one to the other that seemed to define +the first chin. She sat in a high backed chair +and Marilla thought she looked like a princess, +and her gown made the child think of the +beautiful dresses in the fairy place.</p> +<p>But on Friday Dr. Richards said they <i>must</i> +go back to Newton. They would come again +however, there was still a little business to +settle. It was a sad parting, and when Marilla +took her seat in the train she turned her +face to the window and surreptitiously wiped +away the tears, though she longed to see fairy +godmother.</p> +<p>The hack whirled them to Loraine place. +The great trees stood like sentinels stretching +out their bare limbs. The beautiful autumn, +had gone, you noted it more here. Up the +stoop—how her heart beat, and yet somehow +she seemed as if she had lived another +lifetime. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_294' name='page_294'></a>294</span></p> +<p>“Oh dear, dear Marilla,” cried Jane with +the warmest embrace. “We have missed you +so much, and are so glad to get you back. +Why it hasn’t seemed the same house, and +everybody has wanted you. Dr. Richards, +that Mrs. McCormick died this morning and +Miss Armitage was there until noon. Five +little children left, think of it, she came home +and went straight to bed, but she’s had a cup +of tea and will be down in a few minutes.”</p> +<p>They entered the parlor. Marilla took off +her hat and coat, it was so warm indoors. +She had on a new frock, a curious blue that +was very becoming. Her cheeks were a +lovely pink, her eyes full of expectancy.</p> +<p>Miss Armitage came down the back stairway +and through the library. Marilla gave +one cry and was in her arms.</p> +<p>No one had won her away, then. During +these days she had had many thoughts about +the child’s future. She had felt jealous of the +new found relatives and their love, of Dr. +Richards’ devotion, of the happy times when +she had been counted out. Work had failed +to inspire, evenings had been lonely, dreary. +Oh, she would never let her go away again +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_295' name='page_295'></a>295</span> +unless she went with her. She would beseech +the law to make the child hers—</p> +<p>“Oh, fairy godmother!” The charming, +joyous tone that showed the child’s certainty +of a warm welcome. “It has all been so +lovely, but I wanted you so. I wanted you to +see the girls and their father who is the loveliest, +no not <i>quite</i> the loveliest,” and her eyes +shone with a tender radiance, the flush made +her beautiful. “For, fairy godmother, I have +a father now who will love me and care for me, +and I am filled to the brim with happiness—it +is better than the fortune. I could hardly +wait to tell you. Oh, please be glad for my +sake.”</p> +<p>“A father?” she repeated, in a breathless +tremulous sort of way.</p> +<p>“Yes,” said Dr. Richards, and there was a +strange sort of assurance in his tone. He +seemed to have changed mysteriously—there +is a vigor, a power and withal a sweet satisfaction +in his face that gives her a pang she does +not understand.</p> +<p>“Yes,” he repeated. “The fortune is all +right. I have been made her guardian, but +that did not satisfy me. I have taken out +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_296' name='page_296'></a>296</span> +papers of adoption, she is my child, my little +little daughter and she has a new, legal, lawful +name—Marilla Cinderella Richards.”</p> +<p>“Oh, oh!” The pathetic cry unnerved him.</p> +<p>“Dear fairy godmother it can’t make any +difference in my love for you. I loved you +first, you know. I shall always love you, but +I want us to live together and be as happy as +they are at the Warrens, and I love him, my +new father, so much. When you have something +of your very own it fills you everywhere +like beautiful music. I’ve been learning how +sweet and dear it can be. Oh, fairy godmother, +I want you both. It would break my heart +to lose either of you. Oh, fairy godmother, +can’t you love him; can’t you, won’t you marry +him and let us all live together?”</p> +<p>There was a penetrating sweetness in the +pleading, but she saw the red of surprise mount +to the very edge of the man’s hair, and almost +a frown settle between the eyes. Her face +dropped to the silken soft head and she felt the +child’s heart beat tumultuously. To make the +two who loved her happy—to have them for +her own––</p> +<p>She reached out her hand—it was her right +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_297' name='page_297'></a>297</span> +hand. He caught it and pressed it to his lips +with a fervor that thrilled every pulse of her +being.</p> +<p>It was not the tie of kindred blood, but that +divine immortal kindred of love, and as he +clasped his arms about them both they were +Father, Mother and Child.</p> +<p>And so, Marilla had not only the Fairy Godmother, +but the Prince as well.</p> + +<!-- generated by ppg.rb version: 0.21 --> +<!-- timestamp: Sat Mar 28 20:41:26 -0600 2009 --> + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's A Modern Cinderella, by Amanda M. 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