Part 18 (1/2)

Wiseli was glad to be alone. She sat down on the bench behind the stove so that she might hold her work in her lap, for the stocking was so heavy that she could not otherwise manage the needles.

She had just begun her knitting when the aunt returned to say, ”You had better come to the kitchen now, so that you can learn how I do the work, for I want you to do it next time.”

Wiseli followed to the kitchen, where she tried to help, but there seemed to be little that she dared to do. She kept thinking how gladly she would have done any number of tasks for her mother, because she would have been kind. The comparison brought the tears, so she desperately fought against thinking about herself.

”Now pay attention!” cautioned the aunt, as she walked about doing the work while Wiseli stood by the stove; ”I want you to know how to do it the next time.”

They were still there when the father and sons came up the walk from the barn, stamping the snow from their heavy boots.

”They are coming; run, Wiseli, and open the door,” said the aunt.

Then the woman drained a large kettle of potatoes, which she took from the stove, ran to the living room and dumped them in the middle of the warped dining table. Next she brought a large pan of sour milk, and said to Wiseli, ”The knives and forks are in the table drawer; you can put them on.”

Wiseli found five knives and five forks in the drawer and put them on the table; then supper was ready. The father and the boys took their places on the bench behind the table next the window. There was a chair at one end of the table, and one at the side next the kitchen, which the aunt took. The uncle motioned Wiseli to take the other chair, saying to his wife, ”She can sit there, I suppose?”

”Of course,” snapped the aunt, and then went out to the kitchen on pretense of being busy. She kept coming back for only a moment at a time. The uncle, understanding her, said impatiently, ”I wish you would sit still and eat your supper.”

”I don't find the time to sit still,” she retorted; ”I should like to know who is going to look after things out there if I don't.” Just at that moment she noticed that Wiseli was not eating her supper.

”Why are you sitting with your hands in your lap?” she demanded.

”She hasn't anything to eat with,” replied Rudi, who had already solved the problem to his own satisfaction, for he could not understand how anybody could help eating so long as there was anything on the table.

”So that is it,” said the aunt. ”How was I to know that all of a sudden we must have six knives and forks when we have always needed but five. I suppose we must get an extra spoon, too. Why couldn't you have said something?” she went on, turning to Wiseli. ”You must know that one has to have a spoon to eat with.”

Wiseli timidly answered, ”It didn't matter, because I am not hungry.”

”But why not?” snapped the aunt. ”Are you used to something better? I haven't any notion of making a change on your account.”

”I think you had better let the child alone,” interrupted the husband.

”I don't want you to frighten her. She will get along well enough after a while.”

Wiseli sat quietly while the rest finished their meal. Then the father said that Speck, the goat, was ailing at the barn, so he would go back. He put on his fur cap, took the lantern, and went out.

Wiseli watched her aunt brush the potato peelings from the table into the empty milk pan with her hands; then she wiped the table, after which the other things were soon washed and put away. When all was finished she said, ”Now you have seen how I do up the supper work, Wiseli; you can do it hereafter.”

When they came into the living room, Chappi was seated at the table with his number book and pencil, as if he intended writing his sums on the table; he now began to stare at Wiseli. She had picked up the stocking on the bench by the stove, but had not dared to go near the light on the table.

”You ought to be working examples yourself,” he said to Wiseli; ”you aren't the smartest one in school by any means.”

Wiseli did not know what to say. She had not been in school that day, and did not know what examples had been given out. In fact, she seemed to be out of harmony with everything.

”If I have to do sums, you have to,” continued Chappi.

Wiseli said nothing, and did not stir.

”All right,” said Chappi, ”I'll not do one single example more,” and he threw down his pencil.

”Goody!” exclaimed Hans; ”then I don't need to either,” and he put his multiplication table back in his book sack. Study was the most unpleasant thing he ever had to do.