The Turn of the Tide
Copyright© 2024 by Eleanor H. Porter
Chapter 31
The household at Hilcrest did not break up as early as usual that year. A few days were consumed in horrified remonstrances and tearful pleadings on the part of Mrs. Merideth and Ned when Margaret’s plans became known. Then several more days were needed for necessary arrangements when the stoical calm of despair had brought something like peace to the family.
“It is not so dreadful at all,” Margaret had assured them. “I have taken a large house not far from the mills, and I am having it papered and painted and put into very comfortable shape. Patty and her family will live with me, and we are going to open classes in simple little things that will help toward better living.”
“But that is regular settlement work,” sighed Mrs. Merideth.
“Is it?” smiled Margaret, a little wearily. “Well, perhaps it is. Anyway, I hope that just the presence of one clean, beautiful home among them will do some good. I mean to try it, at all events.”
“But are you going to do nothing but that all the time—just teach those dreadful creatures, and—and live there?”
“Certainly not,” declared Margaret, with a bright smile. “I’ve planned a trip to New York.”
“To New York?” Mrs. Merideth sat up suddenly, her face alight. “Oh, that will be fine—lovely! Why didn’t you tell us? Poor dear, you’ll need a rest all right, I’m thinking, and we’ll keep you just as long as we can, too.” With lightning rapidity Mrs. Merideth had changed their plans—in her mind. They would go to New York, not Egypt. Egypt had seemed desirable, but if Margaret was going to New York, that altered the case.
“Oh, but I thought you weren’t going to New York,” laughed Margaret. “Besides—I’m going with Patty.”
“With Patty!” If it had not been tragical it would have been comical—Mrs. Merideth’s shocked recoil at the girl’s words.
“Yes. After we get everything nicely to running—we shall have teachers to help us, you know—Patty and I are going to New York to see if we can’t find her sisters, Arabella and Clarabella.”
“What absurd names!” Mrs. Merideth spoke sharply. In reality she had no interest whether they were, or were not absurd; but they chanced at the moment to be a convenient scapegoat for her anger and discomfiture.
“Patty doesn’t think them absurd,” laughed Margaret. “She would tell you that she named them herself out of a ‘piece of a book’ she found in the ash barrel long ago when they were children. You should hear Patty say it really to appreciate it. She used to preface it by some such remark as: ‘Names ain’t like measles an’ relations, ye know. Ye don’t have ter have ‘em if ye don’t want ‘em—you can change ‘em.’”
“Ugh!” shuddered Mrs. Merideth. “Margaret, how can you—laugh!”
“Why, it’s funny, I think,” laughed Margaret again, as she turned away.
Even the most urgent entreaties on the part of Margaret failed to start the Spencers on their trip, and not until she finally threatened to make the first move herself and go down to the town, did they consent to go.
“But that absurd house of yours isn’t ready yet,” protested Mrs. Merideth.
“I know, but I shall stay with Patty until it is,” returned Margaret. “I would rather wait until you go, as you seem so worried about the ‘break,’ as you insist upon calling it; but if you won’t, why I must, that is all. I must be there to superintend matters.”
“Then I suppose I shall have to go,” moaned Mrs. Merideth, “for I simply will not have you leave us here and go down there to live; and I shall tell everybody, everybody,” she added firmly, “that it is merely for this winter, and that we allowed you to do it only on that one condition.”
Margaret smiled, but she made no comment—it was enough to fight present battles without trying to win future ones.
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