"
"Be quiet, Ellen, I'm trying to think just how it happened. She
didn't say so very much--just sat down and watched me, while I sewed
rings on the curtains. But the first thing I knew, I piped up and
said: 'Do you really want that old furniture of mine so much?' And
she said-- Well, no matter what she said; it was more the way she
looked. I guess I'd have given her the eyes out of my head, or any
old thing."
"That's just what I told you," interrupted Ellen. "There are people
like that. Don't you remember that horrid old what's-his-name in
'Trilby'?"
"Don't be silly, Ellen," said Fanny rebukingly. "Well, I took her up
to my room and showed her my bed and bureau and washstand. There were
some chairs, too; mother got them all for my room at that old auction
we've heard so much about; I was just a baby then. I told her about
it. She sat down in my rocking-chair by the window and just looked at
the things, without saying a word, at first. After a while, she said:
'Your mother used to come in and tuck the blankets around you nice
and warm in the night; didn't she?'"
"'Why, I suppose she did,' I told her. 'Mother's room is right next
to mine.' ... Ellen, there was a look in her eyes--I can't tell you
about it--you wouldn't understand. And, anyway, I didn't care a bit
about the furniture. 'You can have it,' I said. 'I don't want it, and
I don't see why you do; it isn't pretty any more.' I thought she was
going to cry, for a minute. Then such a soft gladness came over her
face.
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