Pat ground her little whiteteeth in a futile rage
against fate. I wonder if I dare look at him, she thought .
Oh, oh, and are ye thinking that possible
now?
Pat couldnt endure the desolation in his
tone.
The Russells do be all knowinghow to make one hand
wash the other.
I couldnt either, said Bets in a broken
voice.
Pat, having missed her exams, must wait until
nextyear.
He says women are fools and things will soon be in
a worse messthan ever. She was the lastone at Silver Bush to resign herself to the
inevitable.
And yet all av us a bit ashamed in our hearts
thatwe didnt have inny maple leaves in the windies. Look at her there, slaping as
paceful as a lamb. Its the grand marks yellbe making in iverything Im
ixpecting.
I do be wondering whats afore thim inlife. Sure and
Ill be making it on purpose forhim.
Bentley looked grave and talked
ofcomplications.
Perhaps the wounds and scars in human lives would
be like that,too. Pat felt herself a sister to allthe loveliness of the world. Below
were houses sleepingin moonlit gardens.
Gentleman Tom had an air of not
likingthings.
Shellbe the grand housekeeper for that fine house.
The cracks in the ceiling wouldnt stay in place but crawledall over. They all want
to go tocollege and have a career. Pat was beginning to suspect that she was
unreasonable . But Doreen Garrison would never read them. Not slaping in the
moonlight, child dear? But Pat could not laugh again for a long time. Pat picked him
up andsqueezed some purrs out of him.
Comfortably hungry for herdinner once
more.
Sure andthis is a joyful day for Silver
Bush.
It was the first time Pat had evernoticed a boy
looking at her admiringly. Young Frank isbe way av being a rale good
match.
Such a delightful meal with everybody
exchanginghappy looks. Sure and I do remimber how pitiful ye used to look up and
say,Doesnt A IVER have a holiday, Judy? Sort of supercilious like, suggested
Judy.
Imight have known it always if I hadnt been a
fool.
Pat and Bets were both pleased to be a bit
sorrowful during thatwalk to church. At first it was a shock to seehow the summer
had gone while she had been sick. I was five when the armistice was signed. I dont
want any of us to get married or go away.