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Show Page 137 I pounded the beetle upon the clothing harder, and harder still, trying to beat some warmth back into my numb fingers. The air was adrift with springtime smells and, after my tutoring was done, I had deemed it warm enough to do the washing. But the water in the stream was icy and had frozen my fingers to the marrow. At last I snatched up the wash from the rocks and hung it to dry upon the bushes. Then I sat in the sun, gazing upward to the blue sky and thinking that I felt no older today, at sixteen, than I had the day before. Yet I felt the need for some small, private celebration. My glance was caught by the fine old maple tree growing near the gully. I had seen it ofttimes before, even sat beneath it, but never before had I noticed that its low branches made it perfect for climbing. An impish idea took hold of me and I scrambled to my feet. It was difficult climbing with my skirts tangling about my ankles, but I did not halt until I was as high as I could go, and that was quite high enough, for I could see near all of Wolstenholme Towne. I could not, of course, see Ann and Cisly's, for their home was set across another gully whose trees were quite as tall as the one in which I sat. I hoped Anne was feeling well. It was not long before the child would come. |