But YOU'RE going to be with me.
Won't it be jolly fun, darling, to go traveling all about everywhere,
and see new places all the time!"
Now those are the words Aunt Frances said, but something in her voice
and her face suggested a faint possibility to Betsy that maybe Aunt
Frances didn't really think it would be such awfully jolly fun as her
words said. Her heart gave a big jump up, and she had to hold tight to
the arm of the surrey before she could ask, in a quiet voice, "But, Aunt
Frances, won't I be awfully in your way, traveling around so?"
Now, Aunt Frances had ears of her own, and though that was what Betsy's
words said, what Aunt Frances heard was a suggestion that possibly Betsy
wasn't as crazy to leave Putney Farm as she had supposed of course she
would be.
They both stopped talking for a moment and peered at each other through
the thicket of words that held them apart. I told you this was a very
momentous conversation. One sure thing is that the people on the back
seat saw the inside of the surrey as they traveled along, and nothing
else. Red sumac and bronzed beech-trees waved their flags at them in
vain. They kept their eyes fixed on each other intently, each in an
agony of fear lest she hurt the other's feelings.
After a pause Aunt Frances came to herself with a start, and said,
affectionately putting her arm around Betsy, "Why, you darling, what
does Aunt Frances care about trouble if her own dear baby-girl is
happy?"
And Betsy said, resolutely, "Oh, you know, Aunt Frances, I'd LOVE to be
with you!" She ventured one more step through the thicket.
Pages:
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179