“Yes. I want to know if you can go over the river with me to-night on an errand?”
“Over the river? Where?”
“Oh, only to Jessy Ramsey's. Aunt Eunice and I have been to Westbridge and bought these things for her, and I want to carry them to her to-night. I thought maybe you would go with me.”
Lily hesitated. “It's a pretty lonesome walk,” said she, “and there are an awful set of people on the other side of the river.”
“Oh, nonsense!” cried Maria. “You aren't afraid—we two together—and it's bright moonlight, as bright as day.”
“Yes, I know it is,” replied Lily, gazing out at the silver light which flooded everything, but she still hesitated. A light in the house behind gave her a background of light. She was a beautiful girl, prettier than Maria, taller, and with a timid, pliant grace. Her brown hair tossed softly over her big, brown eyes, which were surmounted by strongly curved eyebrows, her nose was small, and her mouth, and she had a fascinating little way of holding her lips slightly parted, as if ready for a loving word or a kiss. Everybody said that Lily Merrill had a beautiful disposition, albeit some claimed that she lacked force. Maria dominated her, although she did not herself know it. Lily continued to hesitate with her beautiful, startled brown eyes on Maria's face.
“Aren't you afraid?” she said.
“Afraid? No. What should I be afraid of? Why, it's bright moonlight! I would just as soon go at night as in the daytime when the moon is bright.”
“That is an awful man who lives at the Ramseys'!”
“Nonsense! I guess if he tried to bother us, Mrs. Ramsey would take care of him,” said Maria. “Come along, Lily. I would ask Uncle Henry, but it is the night when he takes his bath, and he comes home tired.”