|
Main
- books.jibble.org
My Books
- IRC Hacks
Misc. Articles
- Meaning of Jibble
- M4 Su Doku
- Computer Scrapbooking
- Setting up Java
- Bootable Java
- Cookies in Java
- Dynamic Graphs
- Social Shakespeare
External Links
- Paul Mutton
- Jibble Photo Gallery
- Jibble Forums
- Google Landmarks
- Jibble Shop
- Free Books
- Intershot Ltd
|
books.jibble.org
Previous Page
| Next Page
Page 41
Somebody poked her hard in the ribs. She started and, turning, saw
Ralph, who was doing a sum beside her on the board, scowling at her
under his black brows. "Quit gawking at 'Lias," he said under his
breath. "You make me tired!" Something conscious and shame-faced in his
manner made Betsy understand at once what had happened. Ralph had taken
'Lias down to the little boys' wading-place and had washed him all over.
She remembered now that they had a piece of yellow soap there.
Her face broke into a radiant smile and she began to say something to
Ralph about how nice that was of him, but he frowned again and said,
crossly, "Aw, cut it out! Look at what you've done there! If I couldn't
9 x 8 and get it right!"
"How queer boys are!" thought Betsy, erasing her mistake and putting
down the right answer. But she did not try to speak to Ralph again about
'Lias, not even after school, when she saw 'Lias going home with a new
cap on his head which she recognized as Ralph's. She just looked at
Ralph's bare head, and smiled her eyes at him, keeping the rest of her
face sober, the way Cousin Ann did. For just a minute Ralph almost
smiled back. At least he looked quite friendly. They stepped along
toward home together, the first time Ralph had ever condescended to walk
beside a girl.
"We got a new colt," he said.
"Have you?" she said. "What color?"
"Black, with a white star, and they're going to let me ride him when
he's old enough."
"My! Won't that be nice!" said Betsy.
And all the time they were both thinking of little 'Lias with his new
clothes and his sweet, thin face shining with cleanliness.
"Do you like spruce gum?" asked Ralph.
"Oh, I LOVE gum!" said Betsy.
"Well, I'll bring you down a chunk tomorrow, if I don't forget it," said
Ralph, turning off at the cross-roads.
They had not mentioned 'Lias at all.
The next day they were to have school only in the morning. In the
afternoon they were to go in a big hay-wagon down to the village to the
"exercises." 'Lias came to school in his new blue-serge trousers and his
white blouse. The little girls gloated over his appearance, and hung
around him, for who was to "visit school" that morning but Mr. Pond
himself! Cousin Ann had arranged it somehow. It took Cousin Ann to fix
things! During recess, as they were playing still-pond-no-more-moving on
the playground, Mr. Pond and Uncle Henry drew up to the edge of the
playground, stopped their horse, and, talking and laughing together,
watched the children at play. Betsy looked hard at the big, burly, kind-
faced man with the smiling eyes and the hearty laugh, and decided that
he would "do" perfectly for 'Lias. But what she decided was to have
little importance, apparently, for after all he would not get out of the
wagon, but said he'd have to drive right on to the village. Just like
that, with no excuse other than a careless glance at his watch. No, he
guessed he wouldn't have time, this morning, he said. Betsy cast an
imploring look up into Uncle Henry's face, but evidently he felt himself
quite helpless, too. Oh, if only Cousin Ann had come! SHE would have
marched him into the schoolhouse double-quick. But Uncle Henry was not
Cousin Ann, and though Betsy saw him, as they drove away,
conscientiously point out little 'Lias, resplendent and shining, Mr.
Pond only nodded absently, as though, he were thinking of something
else.
Betsy could have cried with disappointment; but she and the other girls,
putting their heads together for comfort, told each other that there was
time enough yet. Mr. Pond would not leave town till tomorrow.
Perhaps ... there was still some hope.
But that afternoon even this last hope was dashed. As they gathered at
the schoolhouse, the girls fresh and crisp in their newly starched
dresses, with red or blue hair-ribbons, the boys very self-conscious in
their dark suits, clean collars, new caps (all but Ralph), and blacked
shoes, there was no little 'Lias. They waited and waited, but there was
no sign of him. Finally Uncle Henry, who was to drive the straw-ride
down to town, looked at his watch, gathered up the reins, and said they
would be late if they didn't start right away. Maybe 'Lias had had a
chance to ride in with somebody else.
Previous Page
| Next Page
|
|