Kitty Canary | Page 7

out loud when out of sight, and
so did Whythe. And then we forgot them, forgot everything except it
was awfully good to be alive.
CHAPTER V
The place we went to is very historic and interesting. Something

happened there that was very important in American history, but I have
forgotten what it was. Whythe told me, and as it doesn't matter, being
over for such a long time, I haven't tried to remember. The sky was so
wonderful and the river so winding and lovely and the air so delicious
that yesterdays did not seem important and only to-day counted; and it
was when we were sitting under a beautiful big water-oak that Whythe
began to be terribly sentimental and say things that would have been
more suitable for moonlight and shadows and things of that sort. But
suitable or not, they were thrilly to hear, and I would have enjoyed
hearing them if it hadn't been for an abominable feeling that Billy was
right beside me hearing every word also, and with a look on his face as
if he thought my new friend was the foolest yet. And presently when I
couldn't stand it any longer (I mean stand Billy standing by) I got up
suddenly and told Whythe it was time to go home.
I interrupted him in the midst of a beautiful sentence about my
eyelashes, I think, or maybe it was something else, I don't remember;
but anyhow when I jumped up he was very much surprised and wanted
to know what was the matter. I couldn't tell him, but I was perfectly
furious with Billy and the look on his face, which seemed to say what
I'd heard him say often about fool-flum talk and feather-headed fellows
and things of that sort. And I was so mad I rode so fast Whythe couldn't
keep up with me or continue the conversation, but it has been continued
since. That is the main theme, though the variations are always
different. Whythe never seems to give out on variations.
Of course, all of Miss Susanna's boarders, which are only four besides
myself, had something to say in general about the faithlessness of men
and the flirtatiousness of girls, and how times had changed, and how
you couldn't put your hand on any human being and feel you could
trust him in these days, and how men were gobbled up before they had
got their breath good after painful experiences, and dozens of other
things on that order. And I had such a good time listening to them,
though they didn't talk directly to me, that I'd forget at times and nearly
screech out loud at the tones of voice in which they did me up, and then
I would remember and try to look serious. But seriousness doesn't seem
to fit my face--that is, seriousness over sillinesses--and it wouldn't stay

on very long.
They thought it very indelicate in me to walk away with Elizabeth's
sweetheart right before her eyes--that is, Mrs. General Games did, but
Miss Araminta Armstrong, who is over fifty and by nature sentimental
and sympathetic, said she supposed it was natural for youth to seek
consolation, and Whythe, poor dear, had been so heartbroken at
Elizabeth's behavior that he had been receptive to other influences of a
pleasing nature, and she didn't think they ought to be so hard on him.
And then, after more talk of that sort, she would sigh and look away at
the mountains in the distance with a loved-and-lost look in her eyes,
and Miss Bettie Simcoe would sit up and snort.
There's nothing sentimental or sympathetic about Miss Bettie. Neither
is there anything in the earth below or the heavens above that she has
not an opinion of her own about, but the one concerning which she has
the most decided opinions is Man. She doesn't mince matters when she
gets on him. Also, she is an authority on God. She can tell you exactly
why He does things, and she quotes Him as if He were her most
confidential friend, and the only thing which stumps her is why He
made such a mess of what is considered His most important work.
Mention a male person's name and up go her eyebrows and down come
the corners of her lips and on the side goes her head, and nothing need
be said for her opinion to be understood. She is positively triumphant
over Whythe. She goes around with a "Didn't-I-tell-you-so?"
expression oozing out of every feature of her face, and I think she tells
Elizabeth she is fortunate to have discovered his fickleness so soon.
If Elizabeth thinks she is fortunate she has a queer way of showing it.
She must cry a good deal at night,