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'Yes, it's dreadful having our face washed, isn't it? said Mrs Blackshaw, with her sleeves up, and her hair by this time down. 'We don't like it, do we? Yes, yes. Emmie grunted, without a sound, and yet Mrs Blackshaw heard her, and finished that face quickly and turned to the hands. 'Potato-gardens every day, she said. 'Evzy day-day. Fat little creases! There! He likes that! There! Feet! Feet!
'I wish your mother were here now, he returned, in a moved voice. 'I wish poor Emmie were here: there were not many women like her. One could have trusted her with anything. 'I think I am to be trusted too, Max. 'Yes, yes, you are like her, Ursula. You have got just the same quiet way. Your voice always reminds me of hers. She was a dear, good sister to me, more like a mother than a sister.
Cousin Emmie, with her hair bobbed up in absurd little bobs round her forehead, was busily polishing the stair-rods, while Cousin Matilda was in the kitchen washing the drawing-room ornaments in a lather, her sleeves rolled back on her thin arms, and her head tied up oddly and coquettishly in a duster.
Hadrian sat quiet, a little aside: the indomitable, dangerous charity boy. 'There's the will, said their father, pointing them to the paper. The two women sat mute and immovable, they took no notice. 'Either you marry Hadrian, or he has everything, said the father with satisfaction. 'Then let him have everything, said Matilda boldly. 'He's not! He's not! cried Emmie fiercely.
Somethin' ought to be done, and I'm blessed if I know what. And not a woman round the place not even that Debby. Say, look here, what's your name er Emmie, hadn't I better get the doctor?" The child looked frightened. "Why?" she cried, her big eyes opening. "I'm not sick, am I?" "Sick? No, no! Course not, course not. What would you want to be sick for?
Emmie having pretty nearly filled the bath with a combination of hot and cold waters, dropped the floating thermometer into it, and then added more waters until the thermometer indicated the precise temperature proper for a baby's bath. But you are not to imagine that Mrs Blackshaw trusted a mere thermometer. No. She put her arm in the water up to the elbow.
At last, late at night, she confided in Emmie. 'The sliving demon, he wants the money, said Emmie. 'My father's out of his mind. The thought that Hadrian merely wanted the money was another blow to Matilda. She did not love the impossible youth but she had not yet learned to think of him as a thing of evil. He now became hideous to her mind. Emmie had a little scene with her father next day.
"Oh! then you will come to us for the season! We reckon on it." "No, indeed, Emmie, I don't see how I can. Those two are not in the least fit to go without some one." "But then mother is reckoning on our having a season together. You lost the last." Gerald laughed a little and hummed "If I were na to marry a rich sodger lad My friends would be dismal, my minnie be mad."
You ARE one, sure and sartin. How did you get here?" "I came on the cars," declared Georgie, proudly. "Ma and Emmie put me on 'em and told me to sit right still until I got to Wellmouth Centre and then get off. And I did, too; didn't I, Mr. I mean Captain Bangs." "You bet you did!" agreed the delighted captain. "That's some relation you've got there, Mrs. Barnes. He's little but Oh my!
I took charge of Emmie, and, by God's blessin', got safe to land. All the rest went down. "Now, sir," continued Gaff, "it came into my head that if I took the little gal to her grandfather, he, bein' as hard as nails, an' desp'rit unforgivin', would swear I wos tellin' a lie, and refuse to take her in.
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