The kind, conscientious hands that had fed them would now seem hard and
unrelenting; the place that had been home would turn to a prison; the life
that Elder Gray preached, "the life of a purer godliness than can be attained
by marriage," had seemed difficult, perhaps, but possible; and now how cold
and hopeless it would appear to these two young, undisciplined, flaming
hearts!
"Hetty dear, talk to me!" whispered Susanna, softly touching her shoulder, and
wondering if she could somehow find a way to counsel the girl in her
perplexity.
Hetty started rebelliously to her feet as Nathan moved away farther into the
orchard. "If you say a single thing to me, or a word about me to Eldress Abby,
I'll run away this very day. Nobody has any right to speak to me, and I just
want to be let alone! It's all very well for you," she went on passionately.
"What have you had to give up? Nothing but a husband you did n't love and a
home you did n't want to stay in. Like as not you'll be a Shaker, and they'll
take you for a saint; but anyway you'll have had your life."
"You are right, Hetty," said Susanna, quietly; "but oh! my dear, the world
outside isn't such a Paradise for young girls like you, motherless and
fatherless and penniless.
Pages:
259
260
261
262
263
264
265
266
267
268
269
270
271
272
273
274
275
276
277
278
279
280
281
282
283