Suzanna Stirs the Fire | Page 7

call."
The queen rose quite obediently. Suzanna said at once: "Well, I must be going. But I'll come again. Good-bye, Drusilla."
"Good-bye, dear," returned "Drusilla" sweetly. "I'd like to have you kiss me."
Suzanna lifted her young face and kissed Drusilla's withered cheek.
* * * * *
Once out in the road and going swiftly toward home, Suzanna pondered many things. She thought of what the old lady had said about the little silver chain binding one to another; that no one really stood alone--no one with a family, at least, Suzanna decided. It was a big thought; you could go on and on in your heart and find many places for it to fit--and then she reached her own gate and felt as always a sense of happiness. No matter how happily she had spent the day, there was always a little throb which stirred her heart when she went up the steps leading to the rather battered front door of the place she called home.
Maizie opened the door. She was as happy in beholding Suzanna returned as though weeks had parted them, for she knew Suzanna's aptitude for great adventures. Always they came to her, while another might walk forever and meet no Heralds of Romance.
"Did something happen, Suzanna?" she began eagerly.
"Yes, I found a queen and we had lunch together," Suzanna responded. "I'll tell you all about it when we're in bed."
"Are you going to play at something tomorrow?"
"Tomorrow I shall be an Only Child," said Suzanna. "Don't you remember?"
"And not my sister?" asked Maizie.
Suzanna caught the yearning in Maizie's voice.
"Well," she said, "I'll be your closest friend, Maizie."
CHAPTER II
THE ONLY CHILD
Breakfast the next morning was nearly concluded when Suzanna made her appearance, but she met with no reproof. She had anticipated none, for surely an Only Child was entitled to many privileges; no rules should be made to bind her.
Her father was gone. It was a day of stock-taking at the hardware store, and his early presence had been requested by his employer, Job Doane. Suzanna's mother and the children still lingered at the table.
"Good morning, Suzanna," said Mrs. Procter, while the other children gazed with interest at their tardy sister.
"Good morning," Suzanna returned as she took her place; then, "Will you remind Maizie that I am an Only Child today?"
"You hear, Maizie," said Mrs. Procter smiling.
"Mustn't any of us speak to her?" asked Peter.
"No one but her mother," said Suzanna addressing the ceiling.
She went on with her breakfast, eating daintily with the small finger on her right hand cocked outward. Maizie stared, fascinated. Countless words rushed to her lips, but she had been bidden to silence, and she feared, should she speak to Suzanna, dire results would follow. Suzanna might even go away by herself in pursuit of some wonderful dream, and leave Maizie out of her scheme of things entirely.
So Maizie waited patiently.
"Since you sent Bridget away on an errand of mercy, Mother," Suzanna began later, "I'll help you with the dishes."
In Suzanna's estimation the family boasting an Only Child boasted also servants.
"I'll be glad of your help," said Mrs. Procter, "and since Bridget is away, perhaps you will be kind enough to make your own bed and dust your own room."
Suzanna's face fell. Maizie put out a small hand and touched her sister. "I'll help you," she said, "if you want me to."
"Very well," said Suzanna, and together the children went upstairs.
In the little room shared by the sisters, Suzanna went to work. Ardently she shook pillows and carefully she smoothed sheets, while Maizie, with a reflective eye ever upon Suzanna, dusted the dresser and hung up the clothes.
"Is your mother well this morning?" asked Suzanna politely.
"Why, you saw her," Maizie cried off guard. "She didn't have a headache this morning, did she?"
"I'm speaking of your mother," said Suzanna. "You belong to an entirely different family from me."
"Well," said Maizie after a time, "she's not suffering, thank you."
"Have you any brothers and sisters?" pursued Suzanna in an interested though rather aloof tone.
"Oh, yes," said Maizie, trying hard to fill her r?le satisfactorily. "We have a very large family, and once we had twins."
Suzanna looked her pity. "I'm so glad," she said, "that I'm an Only Child. This morning I was very joyous when I had whipped cream and oatmeal."
"You just had syrup, Suzanna Procter!" cried Maizie.
Suzanna cast a scathing look at her sister: "I had whipped cream!" she cried, "because I am an Only Child!" Then falling into her natural tone: "If you forget again, Maizie, I can't even be a friend of yours." She continued after a pause, reassuming her Only-Child voice, "That's why I wear this beautiful satin dress and diamond bracelets and shining buckles on my shoes."
Now Maizie saw only Suzanna's lawn dress, rather worn Sunday shoes with patent leather tips; she saw Suzanna's