CHAPTER VI. THE DILEMMA.

ellusedtoyourtemper." Bangwentthedoor,andinamomentNinastoodintheentry,shakingherfistatitwithimpotentwrath. "Youstony,stiff,disagreeableoldcreature!howcameyouevertobemymother'ssister?"And,withthewordmother,sheburstintoatempestoftears,andrushedviolentlytoherownchamber.ThefirstobjectthatshesawwasMilly,arrangingsomeclothesinherdrawerand,toherastonishment,Ninarusheduptoher,and,throwingherarmsroundherneck,sobbedandweptinsuchtumultuousexcitementthatthegoodcreaturewasalarmed. "Lawsblessmysoul,mydearlittlelamb!what'sthematter?Why,don't!Don't,honey!Why,blessthedearlittlesoul!blessthedearpreciouslamb!who'sbeenahurtingofit?"And,ateachwordofendearment,Nina'sdistressbrokeoutafresh,andshesobbedsobitterlythatthefaithfulcreaturereallybegantobefrightened. "Laws,MissNina,Ihopetherean'tnothinghappenedtoyounow!" "No,no,nothing,Milly,onlyIamlonesome,andIwantmymother!Ihaven'tgotanymother!Dearme!"shesaid,withafreshburst. "Ah,thepoorthing!"saidMilly,compassionately,sittingdown,andfondlingNinainherarms,asifshehadbeenababe."Poorchile!Laws,yesI'memberyourmawasabeautifulwoman!" "Yes,"saidNina,speakingbetweenhersobs,"thegirlsatschoolhadmothers.AndtherewasMaryBrooks,sheusedtoreadtomehermother'sletters,andIusedtofeelso,allthewhile,tothinknobodywrotesuchletterstome!Andthere'sAuntNesbit—Idon'tcarewhattheysayaboutherbeingreligious,sheisthemostselfish,hatefulcreatureIeverdidsee!Idobelieve,ifIwaslyingdeadandlaidoutinthenextroomtoher,shewouldbethinkingwhatshe'dgetnextfordinner!" "Oh,don't,mypoorlamb,don't!"saidMilly,compassionately. "Yes,Iwill,too!She'salwaystakingitforgrantedthatI'mthegreatestsinneronthefaceoftheearth!Shedon'tscoldme—shedon'tcareenoughaboutmetoscold!Sheonlytakesitforgranted,inherhateful,quietway,thatI'mgoingtodestruction,andthatshecan'thelpit,anddon'tcare!SupposingI'mnotgood!—what'stomakemegood?Isitgoingtomakemegoodforpeopletositupsostiff,andtellmetheyalwaysknewIwasafool,andaflirt,andallthat?Milly,I'vehaddreadfulturnsofwantingtobegood,andI'velaidawakenightsandcriedbecauseIwasn'tgood.Andwhatmakesitworseis,thatIthinkifMawasaliveshecouldhelpme.Shewasn'tlikeAuntNesbit,wasshe,Milly?" "No,honey,shewasn't.I'lltellyouaboutyourmasometime,honey." "Theworstofitis,"saidNina,"whenAuntNesbitspeakstomeinherhatefulway,IgetangrythenIspeakinawaythatisn'tproper,Iknow.Oh,ifsheonlywouldgetangrywithmebackagain!orifshe'ddoanythingintheworldbutstandstill,inherstillway,tellingmesheisastonishedatme!That'salie,tooforsheneverwasastonishedatanythinginherlife!Shehasn'tlifeenoughtobe!" "Ah,MissNina,wemustn'tspectmoreoffolksthanthereisinthem." "Expect?Idon'texpect!" "Well,blessyou,honey,whenyouknowswhatfolksis,don'tlet'sworry.Yecan'tfillaquart-cupoutofathimble,honey,nowayyoucanfixit.There'sjustwhar'tis.Iknowedyourma,andI'sknowedMissLoo,eversinceshewasagirl.'Pearsliketheywan'tnomorealikethansnowislikesugar.MissLoo,whenshewasagirl,shewasthatprettythateverybodywaswonderingafterherbuttodelove,datarwentafteryourma.Couldn'ttellwhyitwas,honey.'PearedlikeMissLoowan'ttechy,norshewan'toneofyourbursting-outsort,scoldinground.'Pearedlikeshe'dneverhurtnobodyandyetourpeople,theycouldn'tnoneofdembarher.'Pearedlikenobodydidnothingforherwithawill." "Well,goodreason!"saidNina"sheneverdidanythingforanybodyelsewithawill!Shenevercaredforanybody!Now,I'mselfishIalwaysknewit.Idoagreatmanyselfishthingsbutit'sadifferentkindfromhers.Doyouknow,Milly,shedon'tseemtoknowsheisselfish?Thereshesits,rockinginheroldchair,sosureshe'sgoingstraighttoheaven,anddon'tcarewhetheranybodyelsegetsthereornot!" "Ohlaws,now,MissNina,you'stoohardonher.Why,lookhowpatientshesitswithTomtit,teachinghimhishymnsandvarses." "Andyouthinkthat'sbecauseshecaresanythingabouthim?Do