human
Dr. Hurlbut came down in a great big car this afternoon and took Mrs. Willis, Winnie went on,
gpt
Dr. Hugh went with her and he's coming back in the morning. The girls behaved beautifully and not one of 'em cried till their mother was well out of sight.
human
Well I should say you'll have your hands full with the housekeeping, was Mrs. Hollister's next comment.
gpt
I don't suppose you can depend on much help from the girls, though Rosemary is old enough to do considerable if she's a mind to. How old is she now?
human
Twelve, replied Winnie.
gpt
But you musn't think I'm to do everything, Mrs. Hollister. Miss Trudy Wright is coming to-morrow, to stay till Mrs. Willis gets home.
human
Who's she? asked Mrs. Hollister bluntly.
gpt
Anybody you can rely on?
human
I'm not saying I don't like her, for I do, said Winnie with admirable conservatism,
gpt
Miss Wright means well, if ever a woman did. She's the half sister of Mrs. Willis's husband and she sets great store, she's always saying, by her dead brother's family.
human
You don't sound as if you were so terribly pleased, said Mrs. Hollister shrewdly.
gpt
Does she put her nose into things that are no concern of hers?
human
No, I wouldn't say that for her, answered Winnie.
gpt
I don't know as there is any one thing I can put my finger on. Of course she has never been in charge of the house before--it will be queer to be taking orders from her. She's been here off and on, making visits and she never bothered me. Mrs. Willis, poor dear, went away feeling sure that the girls would be well looked after and I'd be the last one to think of disturbing her thoughts. But, between you and me, Mrs. Hollister, Miss Wright can't manage a family like this. She just hasn't got it in her.
human
You mean the girls are a handful? suggested Mrs. Hollister.
gpt
I thought as soon as you said she was coming, that a woman without any children of her own would find it hard trying to look after three lively girls.
human
Children of your own has got nothing to do with it, asserted Winnie, tossing her head.
gpt
I can make any one of the children stand round, if I give my mind to it, and they're as fond of me as can be. But remember I say if I give my mind to it--Miss Wright hasn't got the patience to keep repeating the same thing fifty times and if she gives an order and they don't pay attention she drops it right there. I'm not blaming her--she's fat and has plenty of money and likes to be comfortable; she must be fifty years old, too, and at her time of life it's only fair to expect to have a little peace. But I know the Willis family, and giving in to the girls is the worst thing you can do. I get wore out lots of times and knuckle down, but Dr. Hugh won't. I've been watching him, the little time he's been here, and I'll bet he can hold out against even Rosemary.
human
I suppose it's her red hair,
gpt
Rosemary is an angel from heaven, declared Winnie, loyally rising to the defense of the absent.
human
She's always been the sweetest child the Lord ever made and when she was a baby I could never bear to scold her because she'd look at me so sad-like from those big blue eyes of hers. But Rosemary has the Willis will and the Willis temper and when she is on her high horse the house won't hold her. Sooner or later she's going to try to have her way against the young doctor's orders and then there will be war. All the girls are getting out of hand now, anyway, what with their mother sick and the house upset and no regular plan to follow. I caught Sarah yesterday making her breakfast off of lemonade, raisin pie and fancy cakes.
gpt
She's a queer one, that Sarah, said Mrs. Hollister, chuckling.
human
She nearly frightened the little Percey girl into fits showing her a live snake one afternoon.
gpt
Sarah's got a good heart, if you can find it, declared Winnie,
human
She would if she was my child, announced Mrs. Hollister grimly.
gpt
I'd soon shake that out of her.
human
It's my private belief that you can't shake anything out of Sarah, once she makes up her mind to it, said Winnie solemnly.
gpt
She's got the Willis will and that is a caution. Even Shirley, six years old and looking like a cherub straight from above, even Shirley has got a temper of her own and as for will--well you try to make that baby do a thing she says she won't do. The Willis will is something to reckon with, Mrs. Hollister.
human
Why do you keep talking about the Willis will?
gpt
Because I've lived with it for twenty-eight years and I know all about it, said Winnie.
human
Twenty-eight years ago, this spring, have I lived with this family and in that time I've seen Doctor Hugh grow from the baby that was laid in my arms into a fine young man with the Willis will made a help to him instead of a hindrance. Mr. Willis--you never knew him, he died six months after Shirley was born and Mrs. Willis has never been the same woman since--had it, too, and the temper along with it, but he made them both his servants and himself the master, as the Bible says. Many's the time I've heard the story of Governor Willis, (his picture hangs in the hall) and of how he held out against the whole legislature and the public and proved himself right in the end. Old Judge Willis, the father of Doctor Hugh's father, once came near being lynched for a decision he made, but no howling mob could make him retract. As I tell Mrs. Willis, when she gets to worrying about the strong wills the girls have, it's worse not to have a mind of your own than to have too much; I'm not one to preach breaking anyone's will--bend it the right way, I always say.
gpt
Yes, that sounds all right, admitted Mrs. Hollister who had listened eagerly,
human
He'll be busy, but he can handle anything, declared Winnie confidently.
gpt
Dr. Hugh was my baby--I took care of him till he was five years old--and I know he'll manage all right. The girls are delighted to have a big brother, and they'll try to please him, I know they will.
human
It's funny to say, but he's almost a stranger to them, isn't he? said Mrs. Hollister reflectively.
gpt
How many years has he been away from Eastshore?
human
Counting from the time he went away to school, about twelve years, answered Winnie.
gpt
He came home vacations, of course, but the last two years he wasn't home at all. He's been studying abroad and Mrs. Willis was so happy to think he'd be home with her this summer. She was pleased as could be that he wanted to settle in Eastshore. She's talked a lot to me, since Mr. Willis died, about what she hoped the children would do and when Dr. Hugh wrote her that he didn't want to be a fashionable city doctor and hoped he could do as much good in a quiet, industrious, uncomplaining way as Doctor Jordan had done during the forty-five years he's lived in Eastshore, why Mrs. Willis just about cried she was so happy.
human
Well, we never know what's going to happen, do we? sighed Mrs. Hollister, beginning to pull on her gloves as she noted that the plain-faced kitchen clock said quarter of nine.
gpt
I'm sure I hope she'll get the rest she deserves and come home to find nothing bad has happened.
human
Of course she will, Winnie's voice held a faint trace of indignation.
gpt
What do you think is going to happen while she is gone? With Doctor Hugh and Miss Trudy Wright, to say nothing of me, around to see to everything, what else do you expect but smooth sailing?
human
Winnie!
gpt
Winnie, do you care if I take a piece of the chocolate cake from the buffet closet? asked Sarah politely.
human
I'm hungry.
gpt
Your brother says you eat too much cake--go to bed and you'll fall asleep again and forget that you're hungry,
human
Can't I have just one piece?
gpt
You can not,
human
Well, I thought you'd say that, announced Sarah calmly,
gpt
Give it to me this instant,
human
Oh, I've eaten it, declared Sarah pleasantly.
gpt
I thought you'd make a fuss.
human
All I have to say, said the visitor majestically,
gpt
Are you going to the station, Sarah?
human
Why should I go to the station?
gpt
You know perfectly well, answered Rosemary with some impatience.
human
Aunt Trudy is coming on the 4:10 and Hugh asked us to meet her.
gpt
You go--you're the oldest, said Sarah calmly.
human
I want to read about sick rabbits.
gpt
Sarah, you know you promised mother to be good and to do the things you thought would please her. Come on and meet Aunt Trudy--we'll all go, you and I and Shirley,
human
Where's Hugh--why doesn't he go?
gpt
Hugh's down at Dr. Jordan's and he won't be home till dinner time, replied Rosemary.
human
Mother would want us to be nice to Aunt Trudy, you know she would.
gpt
Well, I'm going to be nice, insisted Sarah, scrambling to her feet and hurling the book under the swing where she kept the larger part of her dilapidated library.
human
I'll go to the station if I can go as I am--I have to clean the rabbit hutch when I get back and I won't have time to be dressing and undressing all the afternoon.
gpt
You can't go as you are! Rosemary surveyed her sister appraisingly.
human
Your face is black and your dress has a grease spot across the front. And you haven't any hair ribbon.
gpt
I'll go as I am, or I won't go at all,
human
Then you can stay home, she said crossly.
gpt
I'll go up and get Shirley now and we'll go without you.