Before the guests departed, when the sun was getting low, Aunt Cynthia called her niece to her side and took hold of her hand.
“Don’t you make it too long now, Abby,” said she. “I shall be wantin’ ye every day till you come; but you mustn’t forgit what a set old thing I be.”
Abby had the kindest of hearts, and was always longing for somebody to love and care for; her aunt’s very age and helplessness seemed to beg for pity.
“This is Saturday; you may expect me the early part of the week; and thank you, too, aunt,” said Abby.
Mrs. Hand stood by with deep sympathy. “It’s the proper thing,” she announced calmly. “You’d both of you be a sight happier; and truth is, Abby’s wild an’ reckless, an’ needs somebody to stand right over her, Mis’ Dallett. I guess she’ll try an’ behave, but there—there’s no knowin’!” And they all laughed. Then the New Year guests said farewell and started off down the mountain road. They looked back more than once to see Aunt Cynthia’s face at the window as she watched them out of sight. Miss Abby Pendexter was full of excitement; she looked as happy as a child.
“I feel as if we’d gained the battle of Waterloo,” said Mrs. Hand. “I’ve really had a most beautiful time. You an’ your aunt mustn’t forgit to invite me up some time again to spend another day.”
TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES
| Page | Changed from | Changed to |
|---|---|---|
| [11] | or had been chased of out its own | or had been chased out of its own |
| [220] | but I do’ know as ’twould been any good to | but I don’ know as ’twould been any good to |
- Typos fixed; non-standard spelling and dialect retained.