"What in the world——?" from Aunt Cordelia, who had followed.
"What are you doing——?" from Aunt Katie and Aunt Louise, who had followed Aunt Cordelia.
Emmy Lou knew exactly what she was doing. Izzy had known too when he went hurrying after. Minnie in her time, had she known, might have gone hurrying too. A nightgown, at her pull, trailed from the open drawer.
Yet what was there in the faces about her to disturb her? To make her loose her hold on the gown, look from one to the other of them and falter? Uncle Charlie, too, had come into the room now.
Were they casting doubts again? As they cast them on Sister who until then had in truth been a little sister? As they cast them on Minnie who until then had been neither hired girl nor servant, but Minnie? Emmy Lou turned to Aunt Cordelia for corroboration.
Even as she looked, she knew. We must learn a little more each day along the way, even as Aunt Cordelia had said.
The nightgown trailing from her hand fell limply. The satchel, relinquished, rolled along the floor. Those goodly walks receded, their sweet and pleasant flowers drooped their listless heads. Emmy Lou, nearing five years old, was a step further from heaven.
"How shall we teach a little child?" said Aunt Cordelia, weeping.
"How indeed?" said Uncle Charlie.