“Now I suppose you are going to lecture me too, tell me I’d no business to go off. Well you just needn’t do any such a thing, and I don’t care if I did scare you. It was all your own fault ’cause you wouldn’t let me into your old secret, and I’m glad I scared you. Yes I am!” the words ended in a storm of sobs.
For a moment Eleanor stood dumfounded. Then realizing that something more lay behind the volley of words than she understood, she said:
“Come up to my room with me, Jean. I don’t know what you are talking about. If anything is wrong tell me about it, but don’t bother mother. The little Mumsey has a lot to bother her as it is.”
Jean instantly stopped crying and looked at this older sister who sometimes seemed very old indeed to her.
“You don’t know what all the fuss is about, and why Mammy is waiting to give me Hail Columbia?” she asked incredulously.
“I have just this moment come in. I have been out at Aunt Eleanor’s all the morning, as you know quite well if you will stop to think,” answered Eleanor calmly.
“Then come up-stairs quick before Mammy gets in; I see her coming in the gate now. I did something that made her as mad as hops and scared mother. Come I’ll tell you all about it,” and Jean flew up the stairs ahead of Eleanor. Rushing into her sister’s room she waited only for Eleanor to pass the threshold before slamming the door together and turning the key.
Eleanor dropped her things upon the bed and sitting down upon a low chair, said:
“Come here, Jean.” Jean threw herself upon her sister’s lap, and clasping her arms about her, nestled her head upon her shoulder. Eleanor held her a moment without speaking, feeling that it would be wiser to let her excitement subside a little. Then she said: “Now tell me the whole story, Jean.”
Jean told it from beginning to end, and ended by demanding: