Priscilla, I think you are doing wrong; and you neednt look at me like that. For once, Im going to say what I think! This child has been sent to us, and in your secret heart you know it is our duty to keep her and do for her. The Bible says that those who neglect their own families are worse than infidels, and we have no right to turn away our kin. Your dislike of visitors has nothing to do with the matter. The child is not a visitor, as she says herself. And it makes no difference what kind of a child she is: she is our sisters daughter, and we are bound by every law of humanity and decency to give her a home. If father were alive, do you suppose he would turn his orphan grandchild from his door? No; he would do his duty by his own: he would be just, if he could not be generous; and he would accept a responsibility that was rightly thrust upon him.
Miss Priscilla looked at her sister in utter amazement. Dorinda had never spoken like this before, and it seemed as if the spirit of old Josiah Flint was manifesting itself in his daughter.
But if Miss Dorinda had acted in an unusual manner, Miss Priscilla proceeded to behave no less strangely.
At the close of her sisters speech, she suddenly burst into tears; and the times in her life when Miss Priscilla Flint had cried were very few indeed.
Then the younger sister was frightened at what she had done, and tried to pacify the weeping lady.
I know youre right, Dorinda, said Miss Priscilla, between her sobs; I I knew it all along, and I suppose we shall have to keep her. Father would have wished it so, and and I wouldnt mind it so much if she wouldnt wouldnt leave the doors open.
CHAPTER VI
UP A TREE
While the aunts were deciding upon Ladybirds future, old Matthew was wandering down the garden path toward the orchard.
She bates the Dutch, that child, he said to himself. Now Ill wager me dinner that shes hidin under a cabbage-leaf, or in some burrds nest.
But if so, Ladybird made no sign, and old Matthew tramped up and down the orchard, peering anxiously about while the shadows deepened.
At last, as he stood beneath an old gnarled apple-tree, he heard what seemed to be a far-away crooning sort of song.
Bird, bird,
Ladybird;
They called and called,
But she never stirred.