Poor Ellen Robinson! She had her good points, but a sense of humor
wasn't one of them. Also it went against the grain to give up her own
way, and she couldn't remember when she hadn't planned for the freedom
she would have when Julia came to live with her. Having an entirely
different temperament from Julia's and no spiritual outlook whatever
on life, she was unable to understand what thraldom she had been
preparing and planning for her patient elder sister. A little of this
perhaps penetrated to Julia Cloud's disturbed consciousness as she
watched her sister's irate back; for, when she spoke again, it was in
a gentle, soothing tone.
"There now, Ellen, let's forget it all, and just put it away. I shall
be coming back to see you now and then, perhaps, and you can come and
see me. That'll be something new to look forward to. Suppose now we
just get to work and see what's to be done. Have you decided what you
want to have taken over to the house?"
It is doubtful whether Ellen would have succumbed so easily, had not
the two young people returned just then and demanded that they have
something to do.
As quietly as if she were used to packing and moving every year of her
life, Julia Cloud gave them each a pile of newspapers, and set them to
wrapping and packing dishes in a big barrel; and Ellen was forced to
join in and say what she wanted to have of her mother's things.
Without a word Julia set aside anything Ellen asked for, even when it
was something she would have liked to keep herself; and Ellen, her
lips pursed and her eyes bright with defeat, went from room to room,
picking and choosing as if she were at an auction.
Allison still in overalls rushed out in the car, and got a man with a
moving-wagon; and before twelve o'clock Ellen Robinson saw a goodly
load of household furniture start for her own home; and, being
somewhat anxious as to how it would be disposed on its arrival, she
took the car, and sped away to placate Herbert. She really felt quite
triumphant at the ease with which she had secured several valuable
pieces of mahogany which she knew had always been favorites with
Julia.
"Gee!" said Allison as the car vanished out of sight, "isn't Aunt
Ellen some depressor? Was she always so awfully grown up? I say,
Cloudy, you won't get that way, will you when we get you off in our
house? If you do, take poison, or get married, or something. Say,
Cloudy Jewel, you're twenty years younger than she is, do you know it?
Now what'll I do next? That closet is all empty. Shall I begin on this
one? You want this barrel up in the attic, you say? All right; here
goes! No, I won't hurt my back; I'm strong as a horse. I know how to
lift things without hurting myself. Open that door, Leslie, and move
that chair out of my way. Which corner shall I stow it, Cloudy?
Southwest? All right!" and he vanished up the stairs with his barrel.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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