CHAPTER XVII
Mrs. McGonigle’s Babies
IN spite of the fact that aunt Eunice took little notice of her when she came to the house or when Elizabeth saw her at her cousins’, Elizabeth’s resentment waned rather than increased, for Miss Darby was pleased to speak approvingly of Kathie, seemed charmed with Babs, and behaved very generously and affectionately toward their mother. More than once, off in a corner, Elizabeth listened to harrowing tales of orphaned children whom aunt Eunice had befriended and gradually a certain respect for the nervous, irritable woman was fostered. After that first day, she never referred to the practical joke, as she had named it, but she had a way of looking over Elizabeth’s head as if she did not see her, and of changing the subject whenever anything was mentioned in which Elizabeth was concerned, so that the child felt herself still disliked. However, there were yet dear Miss Jewett and Mr. Kemp who cared much for her, and excepting when Kathie dilated upon aunt Eunice’s virtues and generosity, Elizabeth thought little about her. She had invited Kathie to visit her the following winter, promising a good time in the city where she had her home, and insisting that her visitor should be at no expense.
“Of course I would love to go,” Elizabeth overheard Kathie saying to her mother, “for aunt Eunice says I may join any class I choose at her expense. I could study music, or drawing, or languages, and it would be a great advantage to me.”
“It is certainly an opportunity for you, dear, and I think you should take it,” her mother replied.
“But there is the school,” said Kathie, after a short silence. “I am sure that I can have it if I apply, and then I could pay Elizabeth’s way at the Academy; she really should go next year. Miss Jewett will be married in June, and it would be much better that Elizabeth should change her school.”
“All that is true,” agreed Mrs. Hollins. “Perhaps we can manage, Kathie, although Dick’s college expenses keep us pretty short. The dear boy does his best to keep them down, but when all is said they do mount up. If you go to aunt Eunice you must have a few new things, for I cannot bear to have you go off with only what you have. You didn’t get a new suit last winter and must have one this.”
“I think, then, that I shall certainly have to give up the visit,” said Kathie. “I won’t put you and father to any greater expense, that is certain.”
“Well,” returned Mrs. Hollins, “winter is a long way off, and who knows what may happen before then? If only aunt Eunice had taken a fancy to Elizabeth,” she added, after a pause, “I am sure she would take an interest in the child’s education.”
“Oh well, we won’t borrow trouble, for, as you say, winter is a long way off,” Kathie responded.
She walked away humming cheerfully. Elizabeth, curled up in her chair, sighed. “The old question again,” she said to herself. “I wish I could do something.” She realized that it was within aunt Eunice’s power to make things a little easier for her mother and that any help she might be inclined to give would not be refused, for cousin Belle and Mrs. Hollins were her nearest of kin, and naturally need have no compunctions about taking gifts. To be sure, the Gilmores did not have to be considered, for there was Grandpa Gil always ready to do for them, but Mr. Hollins had no such person to lighten his family burdens. He always maintained that he was glad enough that he was under obligations to no one, that they were happier in their moderate circumstances than most wealthier persons, yet—Elizabeth sat busily thinking for some time, then she made a sudden bounce from her chair and hurried off to Betsy.