Chapter XVI. Up at Merry's

whichheenjoyedhisdinner,forMerrytriedtomakeevenaboileddishprettybyarrangingthebeets,carrots,turnips,andpotatoesincontrastingcolors,withthebeefhiddenunderthecabbageleaves. “Now,I'llrestandreadforanhour,thenI'llrakemygarden,orrundowntowntoseeMollyandgetsomeseeds,”shethoughttoherself,assheputawaythespoonsandglasses,whichshelikedtowash,thattheymightalwaysbeclearandbright. “Ifyou'vedoneallyourownmending,there'saheapofsockstobelookedover.ThenI'llshowyouaboutdarningthetablecloths.IdohatetohaveastitchofworkleftovertillMonday,”saidMrs.Grant,whonevertooknaps,andpridedherselfonsittingdowntoherneedleat3P.M.everyday. “Yes,mother”andMerrywentslowlyupstairs,feelingthatapartofSaturdayoughttobeaholidayafterbooksandworkalltheweek.Asshebraidedupherhair,hereyefelluponthereflectionofherownfaceintheglass.Notahappynoraprettyonejustthen,andMerrywassounaccustomedtoseeinganyother,thatinvoluntarilythefrownsmootheditselfout,theeyeslosttheirwearylook,thedroopinglipscurvedintoasmile,and,leaningherelbowsonthebureau,sheshookherheadatherself,saying,halfaloud,assheglancedatIvanhoelyingnear,— “Youneedn'tlooksocrossanduglyjustbecauseyoucan'thavewhatyouwant.Sweeping,baking,anddarningarenotsobadasbeingplaguedwithloversandcarriedoffandburntatthestake,soIwon'tenvypoorRebeccaherjewelsandcurlsandromantictimes,butmakethebestofmyown.” Thenshelaughed,andthebrightfacecamebackintothemirror,lookinglikeanoldfriend,andMerrywentondressingwithcare,forshetookpleasureinherownlittlecharms,andfeltasenseofcomfortinknowingthatshecouldalwayshaveoneprettythingtolookatifshekeptherownfacesereneandsweet.Itcertainlylookedsoasitbentoverthepileofbigsockshalfanhourlater,andbrightenedwitheachthatwaslaidaside.Hermothersawit,and,guessingwhysuchwistfulglanceswentfromclocktowindow,kindlyshortenedthetaskoftable-clothdarningbydoingagoodbitherself,beforeputtingitintoMerry'shands. Shewasagoodandlovingmotherinspiteofherstrictways,andknewthatitwasbetterforherromanticdaughtertobelearningallthehousewiferylessonsshecouldteachher,thantobereadingnovels,writingverses,orphilanderingaboutwithherheadfullofgirlishfancies,quiteinnocentinthemselves,butnotthestufftoliveon.Soshewiselytaughtthehandsthatpreferredtopickflowers,trimuproomsandmouldbirds,toworkwellwithneedle,broom,androlling-pinputareceipt-bookbeforetheeyesthatlovedtolaughandweepovertendertales,andkepttheyoungheadandheartsafeandhappywithwholesomeduties,usefulstudies,andsuchharmlesspleasuresasgirlsshouldlove,insteadoflettingthemwastetheirfreshnessinvaguelongings,idledreams,andfrivolouspastimes. Butitwasoftenhardtothwartthedocilechild,andlatelyshehadseemedtobegrowingupsofastthathermotherbegantofeelanewsortoftendernessforthissweetdaughter,whowasalmostreadytotakeuponherselfthecares,aswellastriumphsanddelights,ofmaidenhood.Somethinginthedroopofthebrownhead,andthequickmotionofthebusyhandwithalittleburnonit,madeitdifficultforMrs.GranttokeepMerryatworkthatday,andhereyewatchedtheclockalmostasimpatientlyasthegirl's,forshelikedtoseetheyoungfacebrightenwhenthehourofreleasecame. “Whatnext?”askedMerry,asthelaststitchwasset,andshestifledasighonhearingtheclockstrikefour,forthesunwasgettinglow,andthelovelyafternoongoingfast. “Onemorejob,ifyouarenottootiredforit.IwantthereceiptfordietdrinkMissDawespromisedmewouldyouliketorundownandgetitforme,dear?” “Yes,mother!”andthatanswerwasasblitheasarobin'schirp,forthatwasjustwhereMerrywantedtogo. Awaywentthimbleandscissors,andinfiveminutesawaywentMerry,skippingdownthehillwithoutacareintheworld,forahappyheartsatsingingwithin,andeverythingse