United States or Belarus ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
He began by giving her Clara's note, the wording of which he had himself dictated: "DEAR KIRSTEEN: "Though we have not seen each other for so long, I am sure you will forgive my writing. It would give us so much pleasure if you and the two children would come over for a night or two while Felix and his young folk are staying with us.
All this has been very worrying. And now the cause seems to be removed." There was always a touch of finality in John's voice. Nedda saw that all had turned to Kirsteen for her answer. "If those up and down the land who profess belief in liberty will cease to filch from the helpless the very crust of it, the cause will be removed." "Which is to say never!"
Of what did he think, watching the chase and dart of shadow on shadow, as of gray butterflies fluttering swift to the sack of flowers, while beside him on the bed the big laborer lay?... When Kirsteen and Sheila came to relieve him of that vigil he went down-stairs. There in the kitchen Biddy was washing up, and Susie and Billy putting on their boots for school.
"That doesn't explain why he goes over to the enemy, when it's only a lot of grass." Kirsteen answered: "He hasn't gone over to the enemy, Sheila. You don't understand your father; to neglect the land is sacrilege to him. It feeds us he would say we live on it; we've no business to forget that but for the land we should all be dead." "That's beautiful," said Nedda quickly; "and true."
When the child had gone, she popped this here, and popped that there. And there she was! And she felt better. It was no use whatever to make a fuss about that aspect of nursing which was not quite nice. One just put the best face upon it, quietly did what was necessary, and pretended that it was not there. Kirsteen had not seen to things quite as she should have.
Felix literally heard the breathing of Tod on one side of him and of Kirsteen on the other. He crossed over and stood opposite his nephew. "Look here, Derek," he said; "your mother was quite right. You might have put this off for a day or two; but it was bound to come. You don't know the reach of the law. Come, my dear fellow!
Then she and his mother were alone beside him. "Undo his boots," said Kirsteen. Nedda's fingers trembled, and she hated them for fumbling so, while she drew off those muddy boots. Then her aunt said softly: "Hold him up, dear, while I get his things off." And, with a strange rapture that she was allowed to hold him thus, she supported him against her breast till he was freed and lying back inert.
"I don't understand very well, darling, but I am sure that whatever dear John says will be wise and right. You must remember that he is the eldest and has a great deal of experience." Kirsteen bent her head. If there was irony in the gesture, it was not perceived by Frances Freeland.
"Well, I'm going to stiffen their backs. Coming Sheila?" And they went. Left, as she seemed always to be in these days of open mutiny, Nedda said sadly: "What is coming, Aunt Kirsteen?" Her aunt was standing in the porch, looking straight before her; a trail of clematis had drooped over her fine black hair down on to the blue of her linen dress.
Then, in a panic, fearing to be late, she turned and ran out, fluttering into the maze of stairs and corridors. Clara, Mrs. Stanley Freeland, was not a narrow woman either in mind or body; and years ago, soon indeed after she married Stanley, she had declared her intention of taking up her sister-in-law, Kirsteen, in spite of what she had heard were the woman's extraordinary notions.