Part 4 (1/2)
”What did you ask her for?”
”Because! I knew my South America was good.”
”Let me see it.”
”Nonsense! You do not know the first thing about it.” But she gave her little sister the sheet on which the map was drawn. Matilda took it to a table under the window, where the dying light from the western sky fell brightest; and putting both elbows on the table and her head in her hands, studied the map.
”Where is the atlas?”
”What do you want of the atlas?”
”I want to see if it is like.”
”It is like, of course, child.”
”I can't tell without seeing,” Matilda persisted. And Maria grumblingly brought the atlas, open at the map in question. Matilda took it and studied anew.
”It is getting dark,” said she at length. ”But your South America is crooked, Maria.”
”It isn't!” said Maria, vehemently. ”How should it be crooked, when we angle it on, just according to the rules?”
”Angle it on?” repeated Matilda, looking at her sister.
”Yes. Oh, you don't understand, child; how should you? I told you you didn't know anything about it. Of course, we have rules and things to go by; and my South America was put on just right.”
”It is not straight, though,” said Matilda.
”Why, no, it isn't straight; it is not meant to be straight; it is all crookly crawly, going in and out, all round.”
”But it don't stand straight,” said Matilda; ”and it looks _thin_, too, Maria; it don't puff out as much as the real South America does.”
”Puff out!” Maria repeated. ”It's as good as Ailie's, anyhow; and a great deal better than Frances Barth's. Frances got a great blot on hers; she's so careless. George Van d.y.k.e is making a nice one; and Ben Barth is doing a splendid map; but then Ben does everything----”
Here there was a great call to tea from below, and the girls went down.
Down-stairs there was excitement. A letter had come from Mrs. Candy, Mrs. Englefield's sister, saying that she herself with her daughter Clarissa would be with them the beginning of the week. .
”To stay, mamma? O mamma, is Aunt Candy coming to stay? Do tell me. Is she coming to stay?” Maria exclaimed and questioned.
”She will stay a night with us, Maria. Don't be so eager.”
”Only a night, mamma? Won't she be here longer?”
”She is coming to stay till summer, Maria,” said her eldest sister. ”Do be reasonable.”
”I think it is reasonable to want to know,” said Maria. ”_You_ knew; so you didn't care about it.”
”I care a great deal; what do you mean?” said Anne.
”I mean you didn't care about knowing. O mamma, can't I have my dress finished before they come?”