Ailsa Paige by Robert W. (Robert William) Chambers
page 81 of 544 (14%)
page 81 of 544 (14%)
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She laughed with an effort; her natural gaiety returned to buoy her
above this indefinable undercurrent of unrest. Paige and Marye came in from the glass extension where their father was pacing to and fro, smoking his bedtime cigar, and their mother began her invariable running comment concerning the day's events, rallying her children, tenderly tormenting them with their shortcomings--undarned stockings, lessons imperfectly learned, little household tasks neglected--she was always aware of and ready at bedtime to point out every sin of omission. "As fo' you, Paige, you are certainly a ve'y rare kind of Honey-bird, and I reckon Mr. Ba'num will sho'ly catch you some day fo' his museum. Who ever heard of a shif'less Yankee girl except you and Marye?" "O mother, how _can_ we mend _everything_ we tear? It's heartless to ask us!" "You don't have to try to mend _ev'y_thing. Fo' example, there's Jimmy Lent's heart----" A quick outbreak of laughter swept them--all except Paige, who flushed furiously over her first school-girl affair. "That poor Jimmy child came to me about it," continued their mother, "and asked me if I would let you be engaiged to him; and I said, 'Certainly, if Paige wants to be, Jimmy. I was engaiged myse'f fo' times befo' I was fo'teen----'" |
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