"
As I went he called me back.
"Are you going to the farm this afternoon?"
To my own infinite annoyance I blushed as I answered, "I was going to
sit with Charlie a bit, unless you have any objection."
"Not at all. I only asked for information. I have no wish to interfere
with any respectable friends you may be disposed to give your confidence
to. But I should like it to be understood that either your mother or I
must have some knowledge of your movements."
"Mother knew quite well I was going!" I exclaimed "Why, I've got a
parcel to take to Mrs. Wood from her."
"Very good. There's no occasion to display temper. Shut the door after
you."
I shut it very gently. (If three years at Crayshaw's had taught me
nothing else, it had taught me much self-control.) Then I got away to
the first hiding-place I could find, and buried my head upon my arms.
Would not a beating from Snuffy have been less hard to bear? Surely sore
bones from those one despises are not so painful as a sore heart from
those one loves.
Our household affections were too sound at the core for the mere fact of
displeasing my father not to weigh heavily on my soul.
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