Emily of New Moon

. Through her low, Uncurtained window the

was still lingering in

e. A fresh sweet wi

len Greene was sleepi

pt for that the little

ce for which Em

ipped from her bed, t

Mike uncoiled himsel

and followed her, ru

ttle ankles. Almost

ase. How the steps c

t nobody appeared an

our, drawing a long b

almost ran across the

llow still covered th

ning of the lips tha

lizabeth, lifted up t

fl

she whispered, putting

a little shivering, White-clad figure, and

it when they were alo

before th

tiful. All the lines

st like a boy's exce

smiling--such a nice,

suddenly discovered

sing. She had seen m

ut never one j

before them, " she w

Starrs. Not shaking

Starrs, was it? Bec

r, I don't think any

es a little. And I'm

ause I can't keep it

n the cold glass an

good-bye before any o

long and earnestly a

darling, " she wh

iding her father's face from her for ever. Then she slipped out,

was sitting on a chai

dressing-gown, a

patting her on the sh

ed you. _I_ knew what

them came after you. Here, Take this

peppermint lozenges.

shame at being seen

peppermints and never

ay's kindness in giv

er heart. And he call

She had thought nobo

Father had had so m

ing" and "Emily-child"

n." He had a pet name

As for Cousin Jimmy,

g it wasn't his heart.

e was safely in her

the lozenges, though i

it d

that forenoon. For o

was filled. The cof

s as mourners sat stif

them, pale and prim in

abeth and Uncle Walla

r was present. Her fa

od people came and lo

insolent curiosity

Emily hated to hav

y had no right--they h

e--they had said hars

epeated them. Every g

t still and gave no ou

she had never seen

all natura

over the Murrays rose

ook of farewell. Aunt

w her along with them

d. She had said her g

moment to be on the p

rd, alone, looking ev

be made at

be taken to Charlotte

were all going but Em

procession as it wou

ght grey rain that w

s raining; many a ti

was the corpse the r

go away in that soft,

kling, laugh

funeral went off fine,

hing's been done regar

om heaven at it, Em

ase

n heaven, "

ll the children!" El

He's only on the w

il I died, too, so tha

ope I'll

icked thing to wish

d disappeared Emily we

of the bookcase, and

who were tidying up w

t of t

d, " said Mrs Hubbard

composed--Jennie Ho

rried her mother out--

ING pe

. She was thinking.

e afternoon; and sh

en. "We'll talk the m

d Uncle Wallace sayi

nct told her just what

ne of her pointed ears

she knew very well sh

not surprised when El

ht and

irs, Emily. Your aunt

talk over t

upper?" asked Emily, w

around the kitchen she

w

re bother than he

the kitchen, without

p reluctantly. How c

at was going to happen

ld not be told til

oblong table in the c

proportions, falling

flash of black stock

drapery, and then--s

e, arranged her legs

d hear what was decid

he wi

told that it was no

rop, no occasion for

ife with her father; a

uck that she had thoug

see dimly through the

ement that she was afr

und save the soft, fa

that sounded throu

y sat around the room;

ody spoke, though Aun

red his throat and said, "Well, w

to answer. Emily th

whine, "She's such a difficult child-

l

Laura timidly, "that

tistic tem

, " said Aunt Ruth ver

ghten out HER manne

under the table turne

nt Ruth through the t

have a slight curve.

ds under her breath, b

as a great relief

aid Aunt Eva, "and I f

he t

this meant Uncle Wall

e rejoiced

Uncle Wallace, "Aunt N

his world's goods

er dream of taking he

liver. "Besides, she

f a child--her and tha

believe either of th

ut I feel that I can

ily to pr

e long to bother anyon

bably die of consumpt

i

xclaimed Emily--at lea

st seemed that she ex

die soon, so that she

w, just to put the Mu

of dying. I'm going

--you'll just see if

ray

ing child, " acknowl

utraged feelings by m

tablecloth. "If I e

er YOU, " she though

with her

after her as long as s

aid Uncle

all right if I did

all the rest of your l

hat happened to fol

ral, selected her pal

that she wanted engr

settle this Uncle W

tting anywhere. We

il

't call me 'THE CHI

ter

give her a home. Jul

of strangers. Person

to the care and tr

child, " sa

out her tongu

ul, " said Aunt

mily's heart melted at

ver being called "p

der

eed pity her overmuch

"It is evident tha

seen her shed a tea

she would not even ta

aid Aunt E

ddenly whistled

at she has to hide it

allace

might take her, Eliz

idl

eth stirred

d be contented at New

e lik

would!" tho

?" said Uncle Wallace

would be a good thin

pan

said Aunt Ruth sharpl

ak

!" though

training many of her

Wallace,

red!" Emily was getti

e table. "I like MY

bled mentally for a w

her father's--"your

unt Ruth, in a biting

the flesh. As for D

disgraceful for him

ithout

se?" asked Cousin Jimm

me he ha

ble failure, " s

" screamed Emily, sudd

loth, between the en

rays sat silent and

em to stone. Then Aun

the cloth, behind whic

izing what s

of that, Em'ly Star

p and came out. Sh

o angry to be that. H

cheeks c

--what a regular litt

heard him. Aunt

eavesdropper!" she sai

rray would never have

o be wh

ure!" cried Emily, ch

him a failure. Nobod

failure. I don't bel

at's a failure. And

umpt

a shameful thing you

t Ruth, cold

was going to become o

ch a dreadful thing t

ay such horrid

any good of themselves

mother would NEVER ha

out of poor Emily.

erable. She hadn't k

ted a terr

rs, " said

protest. But before g

ro

e table, " she said,

ck my tongue ou

ly, desiring to make

o easily do we misund

thought that she was

e. When the door had

ra and Cousin Jimmy-

ane

n a state of bitter h

mething that gave th

thought it was the Sta

en found out what

lly at little Em

n't know, " she whisp

d with sudden vim, "an

aga

ght she would throw h

r all the pain and sha

eyes fell on the old

s curled up on her bed, Turk-fashion, writ

As her fingers flew o

eyes shone. She forg

them--she forgot her

what had happened;

ched light of her sm

then, to gaze out of t

y night, while she

rtain word she wanted;

sigh and fe

rays coming upstairs s

e had written a desc

conclave ring of Murr

iption of her own deat

ring her forgiveness.

on her knees in an ago

pencil--"Aunt Ruth co

, " she thought--and

li

and humiliation had p

happy. It HAD been fu

hat exquisite satisf

uth as "a dumpy

les and aunts would s

m, " she murmured a