Brave little heart! he goes up to bed in
the dark on purpose to break himself of the fear. I went in for them
shirts missis told me of, and he started like anything, and his face
turned white. He hadn't heard me till I was in the room; I'd no candle,
and 'twas enough to startle him. 'Oh, is it you, Judith?' said he,
quietly, making believe to be as indifferent as may be. I struck a
light, for I couldn't find the shirts, and then I saw his white face.
He can't overget the fear: 'twas implanted in him in babyhood: and I
only wish I could get that wicked girl punished as I'd punish her, for
it was her work. But about the t'other? I have heard of ghosts
walking--though, thank goodness, I'm not frightened at 'em, like the
child is!--but for a young man to go upstairs, night after night,
pretending to go to rest, and sitting up till morning light, is what I
never did hear on. If it was once in a way, 'twould be a different
thing; but it's always. I'm sure it's pretty nigh a year since--"
"Why, Judith, you are in a brown study!"
The interruption came from Constance, who had entered the kitchen to
give an order. Judith looked up.
"I'm in a peck of trouble, Miss Constance. And the worst is, I don't
know whether to tell about it, or to keep it in. He'd not like it to
get to the missis's ears, I know: but then, you see, perhaps I ought to
tell her--for his sake."
Constance smiled. "Would you like to tell me, instead of mamma? Charley
has been at some mischief again, among the saucepans? Burnt out more
bottoms, perhaps?"
"Not he, the darling!" resentfully rejoined Judith.
Pages:
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110