“For mercy’s sake, who are you?” she said.
“I was just looking at your pantry,” she said with dignity. “My aunt has a pantry like that. She puts up jelly every year.”
“I’m sorry,” said the woman, who was tall and thin and wore her hair twisted back from her eyes in a small, hard knot. “I’m sorry I struck you with the ruler. I thought you were my niece, Esther, who is always stealing jam. I told her the next time I found her in the cellar I’d give her something to remember.”
“I’ll remember it!” Elizabeth Ann declared. “It hurt.”
“I’m sorry,” said the woman again. “And the worst of it is, it won’t do Esther any good; she’ll be down here the minute my back is turned.”
“I think,” Elizabeth Ann announced in a rather small voice, “I think I’d better go back. Uncle Hiram will be wondering where I am.”
At this late date Elizabeth Ann had suddenly remembered that Uncle Hiram had directed her and Doris to stay in the alcove room till he came back. Perhaps he might not be pleased to find she was wandering around in the cellar.
“If you have any folks,” said the woman, switching the ruler against her skirts and peering around the cellar as though she still hoped to find the jam-stealing Esther, “I should think they’d be looking for you. Where did you come from?”
Elizabeth Ann explained about Doris and Uncle Hiram and the woman showed her where the stairs were for Elizabeth Ann was so turned about that she couldn’t find her way.