LITMIR.BIZ

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burning in her heart. Then her eyes fell on the old yellow account-book on her little table. A minute later Emily was curled up on her bed, Turkfashion, writing eagerly in the old book with her little stubby lead-pencil. As her fingers flew over the faded lines her cheeks flushed and her eyes shone. She forgot the Murrays although she was writing about them — she forgot her humiliation — although she was describing what had happened; for an hour she wrote steadily by the wretched light of her smoky little lamp, never pausing, save now and then, to gaze out of the window into the dim beauty of the misty night, while she hunted through her consciousness for a certain word she wanted; when she found it she gave a happy sigh and fell to again.

      When she heard the Murrays coming upstairs she put her book away. She had finished; she had written a description of the whole occurrence and of that conclave ring of Murrays, and she had wound up by a pathetic description of her own deathbed, with the Murrays standing around imploring her forgiveness. At first she depicted Aunt Ruth as doing it on her knees in an agony of remorseful sobs. Then she suspended her pencil—”Aunt Ruth couldn’t ever feel as bad as that over anything,” she thought — and drew her pencil through the line.

      In the writing, pain and humiliation had passed away. She only felt tired and rather happy. It had been fun, finding words to fit Uncle Wallace; and what exquisite satisfaction it had been to describe Aunt Ruth as “a dumpy little woman.”

      “I wonder what my uncles and aunts would say if they knew what I really think of them,” she murmured as she got into bed.

Diamond Cut Diamond

       Table of Contents

      Emily, who had been pointedly ignored by the Murrays at breakfast, was called into the parlour when the meal was over.

      They were all there — the whole phalanx of them — and it occurred to Emily as she looked at Uncle Wallace, sitting in the spring sunshine, that she had not just found the exact word after all to express his peculiar quality of grimness.

      Aunt Elizabeth stood unsmilingly by the table with slips of paper in her hand.

      “Emily,” she said, “last night we could not decide who should take you. I may say that none of us feel very much like doing so, for you have behaved very badly in many respects—”

      “Oh, Elizabeth—” protested Laura. “She — she is our sister’s child.”

      Elizabeth lifted a hand regally.

      “I am doing this, Laura. Have the goodness not to interrupt me. As I was saying, Emily, we could not decide as to who should have the care of you. So we have agreed to Cousin Jimmy’s suggestion that we settle the matter by lot. I have our names here, written on these slips of paper. You will draw one and the one whose name is on it will give you a home.”

      Aunt Elizabeth held out the slips of paper. Emily trembled so violently that at first she could not draw one. This was terrible — it seemed as if she must blindly settle her own fate.

      “Draw,” said Aunt Elizabeth.

      Emily set her teeth, threw back her head with the air of one who challenges destiny, and drew. Aunt Elizabeth took the slip from the little shaking hand and held it up. On it was her own name—”Elizabeth Murray.” Laura Murray suddenly put her handkerchief to her eyes.

      “Well, that’s settled,” said Uncle Wallace, getting up with an air of relief. “And if I’m going to catch that train I’ve got to hurry. Of course, as far as the matter of expense goes, Elizabeth, I’ll do my share.”

      “We are not paupers at New Moon,” said Aunt Elizabeth rather coldly. “Since it has fallen to me to take her, I shall do all that is necessary, Wallace. I do not shirk my duty.”

      “I am her duty,” thought Emily. “Father said nobody ever liked a duty. So Aunt Elizabeth will never like me.”

      “You’ve got more of the Murray pride than all the rest of us put together, Elizabeth,” laughed Uncle Wallace.

      They all followed him out — all except Aunt Laura. She came up to Emily, standing alone in the middle of the room, and drew her into her arms.

      “I’m so glad, Emily — I’m so glad,” she whispered. “Don’t fret, dear child. I love you already — and New Moon is a nice place, Emily.”

      “It has — a pretty name,” said Emily, struggling for self-control. “I’ve — always hoped — I could go with you, Aunt Laura. I think I am going to cry — but it’s not because I’m sorry I’m going there. My manners are not as bad as you may think, Aunt Laura — and I wouldn’t have listened last night if I’d known it was wrong.”

      “Of course you wouldn’t,” said Aunt Laura.

      “But I’m not a Murray, you know.”

      Then Aunt Laura said a queer thing — for a Murray.

      “Thank heaven for that!” said Aunt Laura.

      Cousin Jimmy followed Emily out and overtook her in the little hall. Looking carefully around to ensure privacy, he whispered.

      “Your Aunt Laura is a great hand at making an apple turnover, pussy.”

      Emily thought apple turnover sounded nice, though she did not know what it was. She whispered back a question which she would never have dared ask Aunt Elizabeth or even Aunt Laura.

      “Cousin Jimmy, when they make a cake at New Moon, will they let me scrape out the mixing-bowl and eat the scrapings?”

      “Laura will — Elizabeth won’t,” whispered Cousin Jimmy solemnly.

      “And put my feet in the oven when they get cold? And have a cooky before I go to bed?”

      “Answer same as before,” said Cousin Jimmy. “I’ll recite my poetry to you. It’s very few people I do that for. I’ve composed a thousand poems. They’re not written down — I carry them here.” Cousin Jimmy tapped his forehead.

      “Is it very hard to write poetry?” asked Emily, looking with new respect at Cousin Jimmy.

      “Easy as rolling off a log if you can find enough rhymes,” said Cousin Jimmy.

      They all went away that morning except the New Moon people. Aunt Elizabeth announced that they would stay until the next day to pack up and take Emily with them.

      “Most of the furniture belongs to the house,” she said, “so it won’t take us long to get ready. There are only Douglas Starr’s books and his few personal belongings to pack.”

      “How shall I carry my cats?” asked Emily anxiously.

      Aunt Elizabeth stared.

      “Cats! You’ll take no cats, miss.”

      “Oh, I must take Mike and Saucy Sal!” cried Emily wildly. “I can’t leave them behind. I can’t live without a cat.”

      “Nonsense! There are barn cats at New Moon, but they are never allowed in the house.”

      “Don’t you like cats?” asked Emily wonderingly.

      “No, I do not.”

      “Don’t you like the feel of a nice, soft, fat cat?” persisted Emily.

      “No; I would as soon touch a snake.”

      “There’s a lovely old wax doll of your mother’s up there,” said Aunt Laura. “I’ll dress it up for you.”

      “I don’t like dolls — they can’t talk,” exclaimed Emily.

      “Neither can cats.”

      “Oh, can’t they! Mike and Saucy Sal can. Oh, I must take them. Oh, please, Aunt

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