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Missy regarded her capable but undistinguished figure. "I wish they had butlers in Cherryvale," she observed, incautious again. "Butlers! for mercy's sake!" ejaculated Aunt Nettie. "What books have you got out from the library now, Missy?" asked father. It was an abrupt change of topic, but Missy was glad of the chance to turn from Aunt Nettie's derisive smile. "Why let me see.
The two had already "had words" over it. Mother was dear and tender and sweet, and Missy would rather have her for mother than any other woman in Cherryvale, but now and then she was to be feared somewhat. Sometimes she would utter an ugly, upsetting phrase: "How can you dilly-dally so, Missy? You put everything off! put off put off! Now, go and try to get that thesis started!"
On the Senior class roster of the Cherryvale High School she was catalogued as Melissa Merriam, well down in scholarship's token toward the tail-end of twenty-odd other names.
It was to become a legend in the Cherryvale High School how, once on a day in May, a daring band ran away from classes and how the truant class, in toto, was suspended for the two closing weeks of the semester, with no privilege of "making up" the grades.
Especially when one is sixteen and beginning really to know life. Missy had always found life in Cherryvale absorbing.
Raymond didn't once come to her side during all that endless three-mile tramp back to Cherryvale; but she was conscious of his eye on her as she trudged along beside Don Jones. She didn't feel like talking to Don Jones. Nor was the rest of the crowd, now, a lively band; it was harder to laugh than it had been in the morning; harder even to talk.
But there were no vast swards nor pleasure-grounds nor Parks of antlered deer in Cherryvale. Then Poppylinda, the majestic black cat, trod up the steps of the porch and rubbed herself against her mistress's foot, as if saying, "Anyhow, I'm here!" Missy reached down and lifted Poppy to her lap. Airy fairy Lilian's pet was a Skye. It was named Fifine, and was very frisky.
He had brought back from those long-ago voyages bales and bales of splendid Oriental fabrics stiff rustling silks and slinky clinging crepes and indescribably brilliant brocades shot with silver or with gold. For nearly fifty years Mrs. Shears had worn dresses made from these romantic stuffs and she was wearing them yet in Cherryvale!
She was re-playing her first favourite when the folks all came in from church. There were father and mother, grandpa and grandma Merriam who lived in the south part of town, Aunt Nettie, and Cousin Pete Merriam. Cousin Pete's mother was dead and his father out in California on a long business trip, so he was spending that summer in Cherryvale with his grandparents.
Once father said: "Well, the man's certainly magnetic but he seems a decent kind of fellow. I suppose a lot has been exaggerated." He chuckled. "But I'll bet some of the Cherryvale ladies are a little disappointed." "Oh, that!" Missy felt a hot flame of indignation flare up inside her. "He wouldn't act that way! anybody could tell. I think it's a crime to talk so about him!"
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