Her cheeks burned with splendid color, her lips
trembled into smiles in spite of herself, her eyes were like dark
fires, shifting before her mother's, but not paling.
"Ephraim see 'em all go by half an hour ago," said her mother.
Rebecca made no reply.
"If," said her mother, "you stayed behind to see William Berry, I can
tell you one thing, once for all: you needn't do it again."
"I had to see him about something," Rebecca faltered.
"Well, you needn't see him again about anything. You might jest as
well understand it first as last: if you've got any idea of havin'
William Berry, you've got to give it up."
"Mother, I'd like to know what you mean!" Rebecca cried out,
blushing.
"Look 'round here at me!" her mother ordered, suddenly.
"Don't, mother."
"Look at me!"
Rebecca lifted her face perforce, and her mother eyed her pitilessly.
"You ain't been tellin' of him you'd have him, now?" said she. "Why
don't you speak?"
"Not--just."
"Then you needn't."
"Mother!"
"You needn't talk. You can jest make up your mind to it. You ain't
goin' to marry William Berry. Your brother has had enough to do with
that family."
"Mother, you won't stop my marrying William because Barney won't
marry his cousin Charlotte? There ain't any sense in that."
"I've got my reasons, an' that's enough for you," said Deborah.
Pages:
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151