Page:Emily Climbs.pdf/257

Millers, Bachelor’s Buttons, Baby’s Breath, Love-in-a-mist—oh, I love them all.

“Two things happened today. One was a letter from Great-aunt Nancy to Aunt Elizabeth. Aunt Nancy has never taken any notice of my existence since my visit to Priest Pond four years ago. But she is still alive, ninety-four years old, and from all accounts quite lively yet. She wrote some sarcastic things in her letter, about both me and Aunt Elizabeth; but she wound up by offering to pay all my expenses in Shrewsbury next year, including my board to Aunt Ruth.

“I am very glad. In spite of Aunt Nancy’s sarcasm I don’t mind feeling indebted to her. She has never nagged or patronised me—or did anything for me because she felt it her ‘duty.’ ‘Hang duty,’ she said in her letter. ‘I’m doing this because it will vex some of the Priests, and because Wallace is putting on too many airs about “helping to educate Emily.” I dare say you feel yourself that you’ve done virtuously. Tell Emily to go back to Shrewsbury and learn all she can—but to hide it and show her ankles.’ Aunt Elizabeth was horrified at this and wouldn’t show me the letter. But Cousin Jimmy told me what was in it.

“The second thing was that Aunt Elizabeth informed me that, since Aunt Nancy was paying my expenses, she, Aunt Elizabeth, felt that she ought not to hold me any longer to my promise about writing fiction. I was, she told me, free to do as I chose about that matter.

“Though I shall never approve of your writing fiction,’ she said, gravely. ‘At least I hope you will not neglect your studies.’

“Oh, no, dear Aunt Elizabeth, I won’t neglect them. But I feel like a released prisoner. My fingers tingle to grasp a pen—my brain teems with plots. I’ve a score of fascinating dream characters I want to write about.