Part 27 (1/2)
”But you'll get quite accustomed to it after a little; and he is really very funny, I can assure you; he puts et accusto; you will come and live with your new father and me at Laburnum Villa?”
”Mother, you must know that I never will”
”But what are you to do, Maggie? You've got no ie, ”it costs very little to keep me at Aylo on withas a teacher or in some profession, for I have plenty of talent I take after father in that”
”Oh yes, I know I alas a fool,” said Mrs Howland; ”but I have a ith people for all that”
”Mother, you have a great deal that is quite sweet about you, and you're throwing yourself away on that awfulhere, and I coood post I shall be able to help you splendidly Can't you do it,seems so dreadful to me”
”No, I can't, and won't,” said Mrs Howland in a decided voice ”I areatly enjoy the prospect of being his wife Oh Maggie, you have not returned to be a thorn in our sides? You will subie
”Then I don't knohat you are to do; for your new father insists onthe very little money I have for my own personal use, and if you refuse to confor of it on you You can't live on nothing at all”
”I can't,” said Maggie ”I don't know quite what to do Are you going to be so very cruel as to take away the little money you have hitherto spent on me?”
”I must, dear; in fact, it is done already Mr Martin has invested it in the grocery business He already provides for all ht I have nothing whatever to spend on you”
”Well, ht I have a headache, but I'll sleep on the sofa here; it's less hot than the bedroom”
”Won't you sleep with your poor old mother?”
”No, I can't, really Oh, how dreadfully hot this place is!”
”You are spoilt by your fine life, Maggie; but I grant that these lodgings are hot The house at Claphaie! My dear Bo-peep is getting such a sweet little bedroom ready for you I could cry when I think of your cross obstinacy”
But even the thought of the sweet little bedrooht up a hter partook almost in silence Then Mrs Howland went to her roo-rooed a sort of extempore bed on the hard sofa, and was about to lie dohen Tildy opened the door
”I say,” said Tildy, ”ain't he cunnin'?”
”What do you ie
”Oh my,” said Tildy, ”wot a 'arsh word! Does you know, o down to Clap'am presently to 'elp wait on your ht of 'appiness to me”
”I may as well say at once, Matilda, that I shall not be there”
”You don't like 'i a step ”And 'e is so enticin'--the prettiest ways 'e 'ave--at least, that's wot me and Mrs
Ross thinks We always listen on the stairs for 'ireet your ma
We like 'im, that we do”
”I have an old dress in e to make it look quite nice for your new post as parlor-o, please; for I must be alone to think”