Part 19 (2/2)
”Mamma, those people are somebody--I can tell you!”
”You speak as if there were n.o.body else in Shadywalk, Maria, that is anybody.”
”Well, Aunt Candy, I don't know any people like these.”
”Maria, you talk nonsense,” said her mother.
”Mamma, it is just what Aunt Erminia would say herself, if she knew the people.”
”What makes anybody 'somebody,' I should like to know? and what do you mean by it? Am I n.o.body, because I cannot wear red and white jewels at my throat?”
”It wasn't at her throat at all, mamma; it was just here--on her waist.”
”A _bouquet de corsage_,” said Clarissa. ”The _waist_, as you call it, is at the belt.”
”Well, I am not a mantua-maker,” said Maria.
”No more than we are somebody,” said Mrs. Candy.
”Well, you know what I mean,” said Maria; ”and you all think exactly the same. There is n.o.body else in Shadywalk that dresses so, or that has such flowers, or that has such a house.”
”Who are they, these people that she talks of?” Mrs. Candy asked.
”They have lately bought the place. I know nothing about them. They were here for a little while in the summer; but only to turn everything upside down in the house and grounds, and make changes. I cannot imagine what has brought them here, to the country, in the depth of winter. They had nothing to do with anybody in Shadywalk, that I know of. Perhaps they will, now they have got in order. I believe they have lived out of America a good deal.”
”Is that what you mean by 'somebody,' Maria?” her aunt asked. ”Perhaps I am 'somebody,' according to that.”
Maria's thoughts would not bear to be spoken, it seemed, for she did not speak them; and it must be a strong reason that kept Maria's opinions to herself. However, the family found something else to talk about, and Mrs. Laval was not mentioned again till Maria and Matilda went up to bed. Then Matilda had something to say.
”Maria,” she began with judicial gravity, ”what was that Mrs. Laval gave us to drink?”
”I don't know,” said Maria; ”but it was the best thing I ever tasted in all my life. It was some sort of wine, I guess; it was strong enough.
But it was sweet; oh, it was nice!”
”And you drank it!”
”I guess I did! I only wished there was more of it.”
”But, Maria!----”
”Well, what, 'Maria'?”
”You promised, Maria, that you would do all you could for temperance work.”
”What then? I could not do anything for temperance there, child. As Mrs. Laval said.”
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