The women found her sympathizing
and helpful in their peculiar troubles, and there began to be days
when she felt some of the pleasures of authority, and of the power
to confer favors. So the summer and autumn passed, and she began to
look toward the end of her first year's management. So far its record
had been favorable; Page and Thorley had had no reason to complain
of the three installments sent them.
She was sitting making up her accounts one evening at the end of
October. It was quite dark, and very cold, and Martha had just built
up a fire, and was setting a little table on the hearth-rug for Miss
Hallam's tea. Suddenly the bell of the great gates rang a peal which
reverberated through the silent house. There was no time for comment.
The peal had been an urgent one, and it was repeated as Martha,
followed by Elizabeth, hastened to the gates. A carriage was standing
there, and a man beside it, who was evidently in anxiety or fright.
"Come away wi' you! Don't let folks die waiting for you. Here's a lady
be varry near it, I do be thinking."
The next moment Martha was helping him to carry into the house a
slight, unconscious form. As they did so, Elizabeth heard a shrill
cry, and saw a little face peering out of the open door of the
carriage. She hastened to it, and a child put out his arms and said,
"Is you my Aunt 'Izzy?"
Then Elizabeth knew who it was.
Pages:
216
217
218
219
220
221
222
223
224
225
226
227
228
229
230
231
232
233
234
235
236
237
238
239
240