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"I'll speak somepin to Elviny's pop, first time I see him, how Elviny's lendin' a novel to the scholars!" affirmed Mr. Getz. "You needn't trouble," said the doctor, coolly. "Elviny's pop he GIVE Elviny that there book last Christmas. I don't know what he'll think, Jake, at your burnin' it up." Tillie was gazing at the doctor, now, half in bewilderment, half in passionate gratitude.
I like to come by somepin like that, still, to pass the time when there ain't much doin'. How did Elviny Dinkleberger come by such a novel?" "I don't know. If I see her pop, I 'll tell him he better put a stop to such behaviors." Tillie stirred restlessly on her pillow. "What was the subjeck of that there novel, Tillie?" the doctor asked. "Its subjeck was 'Iwanhoe," Mr. Getz answered.
At least he found out, in talking with Elviny Dinkleberger and her father at the Lancaster market, that the girl was innocent of ever having owned or even seen the book, and that, consequently, she had of course never lent it either to Rebecca Wackernagel at the hotel or to Tillie. What her object could have been in shielding the real owner of the book he could not guess.
I think, still, I mebbe used the strap too hard, her bein' a girl that way. But a body's got to learn 'em when they're young, you know. And here it was a NOVEL-book! She borrowed the loan of it off of Elviny Dinkleberger! I chucked it in the fire! I don't uphold to novel-readin'!"
"He didn't know it was yourn, Miss Margaret he don't uphold to novel-readin', and if he'd know it was yourn he'd have you put out of William Penn, so I tole him I lent it off of Elviny Dinkleberger and I'll help you Fridays till it's paid for a'ready, if you'll leave me, Miss Margaret!"
"Fur why did you say it was Elviny?" "She was the only person I thought to say." "But fur why didn't you say the person it WAS? Answer to me!" he commanded. Tillie curved her arm over her face and sobbed. She was still too weak from her fever to bear the strain of this unequal contest of wills.
"Yes, I chucked it right in the stove." "'Iwanhoe'!" exclaimed the doctor. "Why, Elviny must of borrowed the loan of that off of Teacher I seen Teacher have it." Tillie turned pleading eyes upon his face, but he did not see her. "Do you mean to say," demanded Mr. Getz, "that Teacher lends NOVELS to the scholars!"
"Och!" said the doctor, suddenly catching the frantic appeal of Tillie's eyes, and answering it with ready invention, "what am I talkin' about! It was Elviny lent it to Aunty Em's little Rebecca at the HOtel, and Teacher was tellin' Rebecca she mustn't read it, but give it back right aways to Elviny." "Well!" said Mr.
Miss Margaret recalled with a little thrill the loyalty with which Tillie had tried to save her from her father's anger by telling him that Elviny Dinkleberger had lent her "Ivanhoe." "I suppose I had a narrow escape there," she thought. "Poor little Tillie! She is so conscientious I can fancy what that lie cost her!"
"I lent it off of Elviny Dinkleberger!" she sobbed. "You know I tole you a'ready you darsen't bring books home! And you know I don't uphold to novel-readin'! I 'll have to learn you to mind better 'n this! Where d' you get that there candle?" "I bought it, pop." "Bought? Where d'you get the money!"
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