Part 6 (2/2)
Cynthia considered. ”That is three and four months away. Father will be here then;” with a child's confidence.
”And there are berries earlier, and cherries, and then some sugar pears.
Oh, you will be feasted. And you'll like Cousin Leverett, when you come to get acquainted with him. You will go to school, too, and know lots of little girls. You won't want to go back to India.”
”Unless father shouldn't come. Oh, he surely will, because, you see, I'm praying ever so many times a day.”
”That's right;” with a cheerful nod.
”When are you going back?”
”In about a month, I calculate.”
She sighed and looked out over the great stretch of waters. ”What is that long point down there?” she asked suddenly.
”That's Salem Neck, and there is Winter Island. They are always building s.h.i.+ps down there and turn out some mighty fine ones. And fis.h.i.+ng; there's a sight of cod, and haddock, and mackerel, and all the other fish in season. They salt them and take them half over the world. And there's a rope-walk you'd enjoy seeing, leastways you would if you were a boy. And there are some stores. We have lots of goods consigned to the Merrits. Salem's a big place, now I tell you!”
”Bigger than Calcutta?”
”Sho' now! Calcutta can't hold a candle to it.”
The captain's cabin was being dismantled for repairs and cleaning. She glanced in it. How many days she had spent here! Everything was in disorder, yet there was a certain home remembrance that touched the child's heart, and brought tears to her eyes.
”Oh, are you here?” It was Chilian Leverett's voice, and he held out his hand. She looked so bright now and there was a little color in her cheeks, an eager interest about her. He was afraid she was going to be a rather dull child.
”Yes; it's almost like home, you know; only when we lived here it wasn't so topsy-turvy.”
”Did you feel queer when you woke up this morning?” thinking it his duty to smile.
”Oh, I didn't know where I was. It seemed as if I was being smothered in something. And it didn't toss and rock. Oh, there were some birds singing.” She laughed gleefully. ”Then I saw Rachel, and it came to me in little bits, but it seems such a long, long while since yesterday morning.”
”Where is Miss Winn? I want to see her a moment.”
”She has been looking over some things as they came up from the hold,”
said the captain. ”Oh, here she is!”
Chilian took her aside for a moment. It was necessary for him to go in to Boston and he wanted to make a few suggestions, so that any of Elizabeth's strictures might not offend. He began to perceive the child and her attendant were not exactly welcome guests.
”How long do you suppose she will stay?” Elizabeth had asked of him rather sharply. ”For, when we are once settled, I do not think there will be any real necessity for keeping Miss Winn.”
She had been considering it at intervals through the night, and was impatient for what she called an understanding.
Chilian had often given in to her on points that did not really affect him. He hated to bicker with any one, especially women.
”My dear Elizabeth,” he began, ”the child has been consigned to my charge until she comes of age. I should not have chosen the guardians.h.i.+p, but it seems there is no other relative who can attend to all matters as well. She is to be no dependent, only for whatever love we choose to give her. Anthony has made an ample allowance for her, indeed such a generous one that it irks me to accept it. If it makes too much work for you and Eunice, we will have some help. Miss Winn is to look after her, that was her father's wish; so there will be no change.
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