Page:Emma Speed Sampson--The shorn lamb.djvu/244



Aunt Pearly Gates was right. Spring had come to the heart of Spottswood Taylor. Rebecca rejoiced in the sunshine of his smile. He did not always answer her when she spoke to him, but at least he looked at her, and that not unkindly, and sometimes he smiled. More and more, he took her part against the aunts. Ever since he had come to her defense with what Rebecca designated as "that precious hell," she had been sure of a champion when those conscientious ladies felt in duty bound to correct her faults. They began to be careful not to admonish her in their brother's presence, unless they were quite sure of the justice of their point.

One restriction, to which they clung with pertinacity, was that Rebecca should not cross the river alone. They considered their side of the river safe for the child, but it was a well-known fact that the Bolling darkeys were a disreputable lot and they hinted vaguely at terrible things that might happen if she continued to cross the river alone to call on her friends. Then