Jane Field - A Novel by Mary Eleanor Wilkins Freeman
page 104 of 206 (50%)
page 104 of 206 (50%)
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funeral procession passed along the road below. Lois watched it
listlessly--the black-draped hearse, the slow-marching bearers, the close-covered wagons, and the nodding horses. She could see it plainly through the thin spring branches. It was quite a long procession; she watched it until it passed. The cemetery was only a little way below the house, on the same side of the street. By twisting her head a little, she could have seen the black throng at the gate. After a while the hearse and the carriages went past on their homeward road at a lively pace, the gate clicked, and Mrs. Jane Maxwell and a young man came up the walk. Lois stood up shrinkingly as they approached, the door behind her opened, and she heard her mother's voice. "Good-afternoon," said Mrs. Field, with rigid ceremony, her mouth widened in a smile. "Good-afternoon, Esther," returned Mrs. Maxwell. "I've been to the funeral, an' I thought I'd jest run in a minute on my way home. I wanted to ask you an' your niece to come over an' take tea to-morrow. Flora, she'd come, but she didn't get out to the funeral. This is my nephew, Francis Arms, my sister's son. I s'pose you remember him when he was a little boy." Mrs. Field bowed primly to the young man. The old lady was eying Lois. "I s'pose this is your niece, Esther? I heard she'd come," she said, with sharp graciousness. |
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