Marcia Schuyler (Paperback)

Excerpt: ...lifted her chin high and felt like a princess in disguise. "Ben huntin' hen's eggs down in the grass," she said, taking the first excuse that came into her head. "Is it time to get supper?" "Hen's eggs This time o' night an' dark as pitch. Miranda Griscom, you ken go up to your room an' not come down tell I call you " It was a dire punishment, or would have been if Miranda had not had her head full of other things, for the neighbor had been asked to tea and there would have been much to hear at the table. Besides, it was apparent that her disgrace was to be made public. However, Miranda did not care. She hastened to her little attic window, which looked down, as good fortune would have it, upon the dining-room windows of the Spafford house. With joy Miranda observed that no pg 183 one had thought to draw down the shades and she might sit and watch the supper served over the way, -the supper she had prepared, -and might think how delectable the doughnuts were, and let her mouth water over the currant jelly and the quince preserves and pretend she was a guest, and forget the supper downstairs she was missing. pg 184 CHAPTER XVI David made what apology he could for his absence on the arrival of his guests, and pondered in his heart who it could have been that they referred to as "the maid," until he suddenly remembered Miranda, and inwardly blessed her for her kindliness. It was more than he would have expected from any member of the Heath household. Miranda's honest face among the currant bushes when she had said, "You needn't be afraid of me, I'll keep still," came to mind. Miranda had evidently scented out the true state of the case and filled in the breach, taking care not to divulge a word. He blest her kindly heart and resolved to show his gratitude to her in some way. Could poor Miranda, sitting supperless in the dark, have but known his thought, her lonely heart would have fluttered happily. But she did...