“I suppose you have some one on the String for her,” I said, with the abandon of my thwarted Hopes. “Well, I hope she gets him. Because if not I darsay I shall be kept in the Cradle for years to come.”
“You will come out when you reach a proper Age,” she said, “if your Impertanence does not kill me off before my Time.”
Dear Dairy, I am fond of my mother, and I felt repentent and stricken.
So I became more agreable, although feeling all the time that she does not and never will understand my Temperment. I said:
“I don’t care about Society, and you know it, mother. If you’ll keep Leila out of this room, which isn’t much but is my Castle while here, I’ll probably go to bed early.”
“Barbara, sometimes I think you have no afection for your Sister.”
I had agreed to honesty January first, so I replied.
“I have, of course, mother. But I am fonder of her while at school than at home. And I should be a better Sister if not condemed to her old things, including hats which do not suit my Tipe.”
Mother moved over magestically to the door and shut it. Then she came and stood over me.
“I’ve come to the conclusion, Barbara,” she said, “to appeal to your better Nature. Do you wish Leila to be married and happy?”