Page:Leah Reed--Brenda's summer at Rockley.djvu/64

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
50
BRENDA’S SUMMER AT ROCKLEY

“Oh, thank you,” cried Angelina; “I can go as well as not. It is always so much pleasanter to have company.”

The conductor and brakeman now reappeared, the passengers took their seats, and in a very short time the train drew away from the little station. It was only three or four minutes before they reached the larger station at Lynn. But as Angelina made good use of the time, they were able to learn that her mother did n’t cough as much as when they lived in the city, that the boys thought it great fun to work in the garden, that Manuel had had his hair cut very short, and that they had broken only two cups and one plate of the new dishes. Angelina, herself, according to her own report, was the only one of the family at all discontented with Shiloh, and she condescended to say that she thought she would like it better after the summer boarders arrived. She also promised to go back to her mother the very next day, as both Brenda and Nora said that they were sure that she was needed at home. Angelina probably realized that it was very necessary for her and for the family to have the good will of “the young ladies,” as they called “The Four,” and the other Bazaar helpers, and she felt flattered that they considered her presence so necessary to her mother’s comfort at home. She had a fairly well-developed bump of self-esteem.