Part 8 (2/2)

Rachel toyed with the hair, patted the soft flushed cheek, and took the hands in hers.

”Cynthia,” she said gently, ”Cynthia, dear, wake up.”

The child roused, opened her eyes. ”I'm so tired,” she murmured. ”Will we never be done crossing the wide, wide ocean? And where is Salem?”

”We are there, dear, safe and housed from the storm. You have been asleep on my knee. Come to bed now. Say good-night.”

She stood the little girl up on her feet and put one arm around her.

It was against Elizabeth Leverett's theories that any child should go off peaceably, with no snarling protest. Chilian raised his book a little, hoping in the depths of his soul there would be no scene.

”Say good-night.”

No child of Puritan training, with the fear of the rod before her eyes, could have done better. She said good-night in a very sleepy tone, and slipped her arm about Rachel's waist as they left the room together.

No one made any comment at first. Then Eunice said, in what she made a casual tone:

”She seems a very tractable child.”

”You can't tell by one instance. Children of that age are always self-willed. And allowing a child to lie around one's lap, when she should have said her prayers and gone to bed at the proper hour, is a most reprehensible habit. And I don't suppose she ever says a prayer.”

Eunice thought of the daily prayers for her father's safe journey. Would that be set down as a sort of idolatry?

Chilian picked up his papers; he had grown fastidious, and rarely left his belongings about to annoy Elizabeth. Eunice rolled up her work and dropped it in the bag that hung on the post of her chair, straightened up a few things, stood the logs in the corner and put up the wire fender, so there should be no danger of fire; while Elizabeth set all things straight in the kitchen.

Cynthia meanwhile was undressed and mounted the steps to the high bed.

Then she flung her arms about Rachel's neck.

”Oh, come and sleep in my bed to-night!” she cried pleadingly. ”It's so big and lonesome, that I am afraid. I wish it was like your little bed.

They were so cunning on the s.h.i.+p. I don't like this one, where you have to go upstairs to get in it. Oh, do come!”

And Elizabeth Leverett would have been shocked if she could have seen the child cuddled up in her attendant's arms. Theoretically, she believed Holy Writ--”He hath made of one blood all nations.” Practically she made many exceptions.

CHAPTER V

MAKING FRIENDS WITH THE LITTLE GIRL

The northeast storm was terrific. The wind lashed the ocean until it writhed and groaned and sent great billows up on the land. The trees bent to the fierce blasts; many storms had toughened them and perhaps taught them the wisdom of yielding, since it must be break or bend.

Silas sat in the barn mending tools and harness and clearing up generally; Elizabeth spent most of the first day clearing up the garret again, and looking with a grudging eye on the new accession of boxes, and sniffing up the queer smell disdainfully.

”One can't have the windows open,” she ruminated, ”and the smell must go through the house. I don't believe it will ever get out.”

More than one family in Salem had stores from the Orient. Many of them liked the fragrance of sandalwood and strange perfumes. ”G.o.d's fresh air was good enough for her,” said Elizabeth.

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