"There are so many different views about riches," she said at last. "I
am glad you are so tremendously rich that you think nothing of three
hundred pounds. Mother and I often sigh and pine even for _one_ pound.
For instance, now--But I mustn't tell you; it would not be right.
Perhaps Aunt Church will be a little nicer to me now that you have taken
her up. I'll threaten to complain to you if she doesn't behave."
Here Susy laughed merrily.
"That's all right, Susan," said Kathleen. "I must go back now, for I
have promised to go for a walk with Mrs. Tennant. No one ever thinks
about her as she ought to be thought of; so I have some plans in my head
for her, too. Oh, my head is full of plans, and I do wish--yes, I do,
Susy--that I could make a lot of people happy."
"You are a splendid girl," said Susy. "I wish there were others like you
in the world."
"No, I am not splendid," said Kathleen, her lovely dark eyes looking
wistful. "I have heaps and lashons of faults; but I do like to make
people happy. I always did since I was a little child. The person I am
most anxious about at present is Ruth: I love Ruth so very much. You
will be sure to see her this evening, won't you?"
"Sure and certain," said Susy. "I am very much obliged to you, Kathleen;
you have made a great difference in my life."
The two girls parted just by the turnstile. Kathleen passed through on
her way across the common to Mrs. Tennant's house, and Susy went slowly
back to the High Street and the little stationer's shop.
She found Mrs. Church in the act of being deposited in her bath-chair,
and Tom, looking proud and flushed, attending on her. Mrs. Hopkins was
also standing just outside the shop, putting a wrap round the old lady
and tucking her up. When Susy appeared her mother called out to her:
"Come along, you ungrateful girl. Here's Aunt Church going, and
wondering why you have deserted her during the last hour."
"That's just like you, Mary Hopkins," said old Mrs. Church. "You scold
when there's no occasion to, and you withhold scolding when it's due. I
don't blame your daughter Susan for going out with that nice young lady.
I am only too pleased to think that any daughter of yours should be
taken notice of by a young lady of the Miss Kathleen O'Hara type. She's
a splendid girl; and, to tell you the honest truth, none of you are fit
for her to touch you with a pair of tongs."
"Dear, dear!" said Susy. "But she has touched me pretty often. I don't
think you ought to say nasty things of that sort, Aunt Church, for if
you do I may be able to--"
Aunt Church fixed her glittering black eyes on Susan.
"Come here, child," she said.
Susy went up to her somewhat unwillingly.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account