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Page 34
That was the end of the discussion. Sophia and Amanda Gill had
been living in the old Ackley house a fortnight, and they had three
boarders: an elderly widow with a comfortable income, a young
congregationalist clergyman, and the middle-aged single woman who
had charge of the village library. Now the school-teacher from
Acton, Miss Louisa Stark, was expected for the summer, and would
make four.
Sophia considered that they were comfortably provided for. Her
wants and her sister's were very few, and even the niece, although
a young girl, had small expenses, since her wardrobe was supplied
for years to come from that of the deceased aunt. There were
stored away in the garret of the Ackley house enough voluminous
black silks and satins and bombazines to keep her clad in somber
richness for years to come.
Flora was a very gentle girl, with large, serious blue eyes, a
seldom-smiling, pretty mouth, and smooth flaxen hair. She was
delicate and very young--sixteen on her next birthday.
She came home soon now with her parcels of sugar and tea from the
grocer's. She entered the kitchen gravely and deposited them on
the table by which her Aunt Amanda was seated stringing beans.
Flora wore an obsolete turban-shaped hat of black straw which had
belonged to the dead aunt; it set high like a crown, revealing her
forehead. Her dress was an ancient purple-and-white print, too
long and too large except over the chest, where it held her like a
straight waistcoat.
"You had better take off your hat, Flora," said Sophia. She turned
suddenly to Amanda. "Did you fill the water-pitcher in that
chamber for the schoolteacher?" she asked severely. She was quite
sure that Amanda had not filled the water-pitcher.
Amanda blushed and started guiltily. "I declare, I don't believe I
did," said she.
"I didn't think you had," said her sister with sarcastic emphasis.
"Flora, you go up to the room that was your Great-aunt Harriet's,
and take the water-pitcher off the wash-stand and fill it with
water. Be real careful, and don't break the pitcher, and don't
spill the water."
"In THAT chamber?" asked Flora. She spoke very quietly, but her
face changed a little.
"Yes, in that chamber," returned her Aunt Sophia sharply. "Go
right along."
Flora went, and her light footstep was heard on the stairs. Very
soon she returned with the blue-and-white water-pitcher and filled
it carefully at the kitchen sink.
"Now be careful and not spill it," said Sophia as she went out of
the room carrying it gingerly.
Amanda gave a timidly curious glance at her; she wondered if she
had seen the purple gown.
Then she started, for the village stagecoach was seen driving
around to the front of the house. The house stood on a corner.
"Here, Amanda, you look better than I do; you go and meet her,"
said Sophia. "I'll just put the cake in the pan and get it in the
oven and I'll come. Show her right up to her room."
Amanda removed her apron hastily and obeyed. Sophia hurried with
her cake, pouring it into the baking-tins. She had just put it in
the oven, when the door opened and Flora entered carrying the blue
water-pitcher.
"What are you bringing down that pitcher again for?" asked Sophia.
"She wants some water, and Aunt Amanda sent me," replied Flora.
Her pretty pale face had a bewildered expression.
"For the land sake, she hasn't used all that great pitcherful of
water so quick?"
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