“Now tell me, Kate,” Aunt Katherine questioned her abruptly as soon as they were on their way. “Are you and Elsie getting on well? Are you becoming friends?”
This was difficult for Kate. She hesitated. “I don’t think Elsie likes me,” she said finally. “She tries to be—polite, I think.”
“Not like you? Nonsense! How could she help liking you?”
Kate laughed. “I suppose you can’t like everybody,” she said modestly. “But Elsie doesn’t seem to like very many people. That boy and girl next door—she doesn’t play with them.”
“Oh, Rose and Jack Denton. You know the reason for the coldness there, of course. But you are quite different.”
“No, I don’t know the reason. Why hasn’t she friends here? I don’t know anything. She hasn’t explained at all.”
Aunt Katherine showed real surprise. “Do you mean your mother hasn’t told you why things are difficult for Elsie? Is she as ashamed as that? Well, she feels even more strongly than I had suspected then.”
Bitterness and sorrow had settled on Aunt Katherine’s features.
“I don’t think Mother knew anything to tell me,” Kate protested. “Why are things difficult for Elsie?”
“If your mother hasn’t told you, she wouldn’t want me to. That is certain. But I am surprised she let you come, feeling so. However, since she did let you come, and you have no prejudice, Elsie has no business to include you in her rages. You are the one person in the world she should be friendly with and grateful to. And, you know, I am sure she exaggerates other people’s attitude, anyway. The young people would be friendly enough if she would only go halfway.”