Читать книгу Cathalina at Greycliff онлайн

26 страница из 47

“It would not be like Cathalina to plume herself upon advantages.”

“No,” put in Mr. Van Buskirk, “but those things usually leak out.”

“Yes,” said Aunt Katherine, “but not, I hope until the poor child has had a fair start.”

ssss1

While Cathalina Van Buskirk’s aunt was making suggestions, another aunt, in a different way was shaping the destiny of another young girl, Hilary Lancaster.

It was an early morning of the first week in June. Mrs. Lancaster always found it wise to rise with the lark and accomplish what she could before the door bell and telephone began for the day. This morning the grocery list was made out, the breakfast cooking, the vegetables partly prepared for the noon dinner, a blouse cut out for Tommy, and the porches fresh from the hose. Hilary, too, had risen early to work a hard problem, and it was she who had turned the hose on the porches.

“Call your father now, Hilary, please, and tell him that breakfast is nearly ready. I will see about the boys presently. They are up but I must see that Gordon puts on a clean collar. Is Mary awake?”