Prev | Current Page 257 | Next

Ingelow, Jean, 1820-1897

"Fated to Be Free"


"Do you think those girls are growing like their mother?" asked John.
"I think they are a little. Perhaps that pretty way they have of taking
up their eye-glasses when they come forward to look at anything, makes
them seem more like than they are."
John scarcely ever mentioned his wife, but before Emily most people
spoke without much reserve.
"Only one of the whole tribe is like her in mind and disposition," he
continued.
"And that's a good thing," thought Emily, but she did not betray her
thought.
While this talk went on the two younger children had got possession, of
Mrs. Nemily's watch (which hung from her neck by a long Trichinopoly
chain), and were listening to a chime that it played. Emily took the boy
on her knee, and it did not appear that he considered himself too big to
be nursed, but began to examine the watch, putting it to his ear, while
he composedly rested his head on her shoulder.
"Poor little folk," thought John, "how naturally they take to the
caresses of a young mother!"
Another bell then rang.
"What order is kept in your house!" said Emily, as both the children
departed, one with a kiss on her dimpled cheek and the other on his
little scratched fist, which already told of much climbing.


Pages:
245 246 247 248 249 250 251 252 253 254 255 256 257 258 259 260 261 262 263 264 265 266 267 268 269