DOI article:
King, K. Douglas: Lucretia
DOI Page / Citation link:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.26393#0240
Lucretia
236
The other woman had Lucretia’s splendid, slightly scornful
eyes. Molly had her aunt’s large, full mouth.
cc I wasn’t goin’ to say a word,” returned Annie 3 her sad lips
trembled. “’Tisn’t no use 3 I knew that afore I came. I know
you, Luce ! No ! an’ I won’t sit down an’ eat anythink, Luce 3
I’ve a back train to catch, an’ time’s short. I came to ask, Luce,
if-”
She faltered here, and changed colour. Lucretia bit her lips.
“ Well,” she said, sullenly, “if what ? ”
“ I came to ask if I could take the children home with me for
a spell, Luce,” said her sister, softly.
An indescribable tumult took possession of Lucretia’s soul.
Many conflicting voices clamoured for a hearing. Luce, con-
founded, taken by surprise, and dismayed to death at heart, listened,
with difficulty, to the loudest and most importunate.
“ Yes,” she said, heavily, at last 3 “ you can, if you like.”
Mrs. Burnett’s sister had come, primed with the best intention
in the world. She had not for a moment expected that her de-
liberately planned request would be granted. When Luce mut-
tered out her slow “ Yes,” she was amazed, but not dismayed.
She thought she was acting for the best in removing the Burnett
children from the immediate scene of their mother’s sin 5 but the
wisdom of her act may be questioned. In less than half an hour
the entire flock was ready to start, baggage, such as it was, and
all.
The parting was brief, and without undue expression of senti-
ment. The eleven months old baby was asleep when it changed
hands. The childless woman received it with a most motherly,
caressing movement 3 Luce’s face was hard and rigid. The
younger children were jubilant at the thought of the journey, but
cried at having to leave their home, as they went down the little
236
The other woman had Lucretia’s splendid, slightly scornful
eyes. Molly had her aunt’s large, full mouth.
cc I wasn’t goin’ to say a word,” returned Annie 3 her sad lips
trembled. “’Tisn’t no use 3 I knew that afore I came. I know
you, Luce ! No ! an’ I won’t sit down an’ eat anythink, Luce 3
I’ve a back train to catch, an’ time’s short. I came to ask, Luce,
if-”
She faltered here, and changed colour. Lucretia bit her lips.
“ Well,” she said, sullenly, “if what ? ”
“ I came to ask if I could take the children home with me for
a spell, Luce,” said her sister, softly.
An indescribable tumult took possession of Lucretia’s soul.
Many conflicting voices clamoured for a hearing. Luce, con-
founded, taken by surprise, and dismayed to death at heart, listened,
with difficulty, to the loudest and most importunate.
“ Yes,” she said, heavily, at last 3 “ you can, if you like.”
Mrs. Burnett’s sister had come, primed with the best intention
in the world. She had not for a moment expected that her de-
liberately planned request would be granted. When Luce mut-
tered out her slow “ Yes,” she was amazed, but not dismayed.
She thought she was acting for the best in removing the Burnett
children from the immediate scene of their mother’s sin 5 but the
wisdom of her act may be questioned. In less than half an hour
the entire flock was ready to start, baggage, such as it was, and
all.
The parting was brief, and without undue expression of senti-
ment. The eleven months old baby was asleep when it changed
hands. The childless woman received it with a most motherly,
caressing movement 3 Luce’s face was hard and rigid. The
younger children were jubilant at the thought of the journey, but
cried at having to leave their home, as they went down the little