Page:Emily Climbs.pdf/110

 just as she might have said, ‘The sun has always risen in the east.’

“But the pictures are really the worst thing about this room—chromos of the most aggravated description. Once I turned them all to the wall and of course Aunt Ruth walked in—she knocks—and noticed them at once.

“‘Em’ly, why have you meddled with the pictures?’

“Aunt Ruth is always asking ‘why’ I do this and that. Sometimes I can explain and sometimes I can’t. This was one of the times I couldn’t. But of course I had to answer Aunt Ruth’s question. No disdainful smile would do here.

“‘Queen Alexandra’s dog collar gets on my nerves,’ I said, ‘and Byron’s expression on his death-bed at Missolonghi hinders me from studying.’

“‘Em’ly,’ said Aunt Ruth, ‘you might try to show a gratitude.’

“I wanted to say,

“‘To whom—Queen Alexandra or Lord Byron?’ but of course I didn’t. Instead I meekly turned all the pictures right side out again.

“‘You haven’t told me the real reason why you turned those pictures,’ said Aunt Ruth sternly. ‘I suppose you don’t mean to tell me. Deep and sly—deep and sly—I always said you were. The very first time I saw you at Maywood I said you were the slyest child I had ever seen.’

“‘Aunt Ruth, why do you say such things to me?’ I said, in exasperation. ‘Is it because you love me and want to improve me—or hate me and want to hurt me—or just because you can’t help it?’

“‘Miss Impertinence, please remember that this is house. And you will leave pictures alone after this. I will forgive you for meddling with them this time but don’t let it happen again. I will find out yet your motive in turning them around, clever as you think yourself.’

“Aunt Ruth stalked out but I know she listened on the