The other morning I went
up to her room with a little bunch of violets which I had gathered
for her myself. When she opened the door, I saw that she was
packing her trunks. And the dress she had ordered for Marguerite's
ball was lying on the bed ready to be put in. As I gave her the
flowers she stood looking at them a long time; then she kissed me
without a word and quickly closed the door."
When Harriet had gone. Miss Anna sat awhile in her porch with a
troubled face. Then she went softly into the library, the windows
of which opened out upon the porch. Professor Hardage was standing
on a short step-ladder before a bookcase, having just completed the
arrangement of the top shelf.
"Are you never going to get down?" she asked, looking up at him
fondly.
He closed the book with a snap and a sigh and descended. Her
anxious look recalled his attention,
"Did I not hear Harriet harrowing you up again with her troubles?"
he asked. "You poor, kind soul that try to bear everybody's!"
"Never mind about what I bear! What can you bear for dinner?"
"It is an outrage, Anna! What right has she to make herself
happier by making you miserable, lengthening her life by shortening
yours? For these worries always clip the thread of life at the
end: that is where all the small debts are collected as one."
"Now you must not be down on Harriet! It makes her happier; and as
to the end of my life, I shall be there to attend to that.
Pages:
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119