Page:On a pincushion.djvu/29

This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
16
The Story of Vain Lamorna.

“You cannot speak to him, for he is not here,” said his mother, coldly. “And it is all your doing. He was so grieved by the unkind things you said to him last night that he could not bear to stay here any longer, so he is gone to enlist for a soldier, and go to the war;” and his mother began to cry afresh. Lamorna stared in surprise.

“Why, how could it be my doing ?” she said. “If Erick was so silly as to mind what I said, I can’t help that,” and she turned away in a huff. “But he needn't have gone away just now,” she added, beginning to whimper, “for I wanted to speak to him.”

“Then you should not have been so cruel to him,” said his mother; and she looked closely at Lamorna, to see if she showed signs of repentance.

“Why are you looking at me?” cried Lamorna. “Have I done my hair badly, or do I look amiss?” for she felt frightened as she could not see herself, lest her looks might have changed.

“You are a vain, heartless girl, Lamorna,” cried the woman, angrily. “I only looked at you to