 | An idyl of work |  |
Esther, alone, sought Ruth; and on the way
Met Minta Summerfield, who seemed disturbed
And strangely sobered.
“Esther, some one 's sick
In the next house. I overheard the girls
Talking about her; saying that she mopes,
And will not eat, nor tell them how she ails;
That when she speaks, 't is all in grand book-talk,
Learned as college-folks; they hinted, too,
That she was some fine lady in disgrace,
Come here to hide from sight.
“O, girls can be
So cruel to one another! I am vexed
That I am one, sometimes! Do, Esther, do
Go and look after her, or I shall rush
At those girls like a whirlwind.”
Esther smiled;
With a brief whisper smoothed out Minta's frown,
And disappeared.
Poor Ruth! There was no need
Of many words. To Esther's pleasant voice,
She yielded, like a child, and let herself
Be dressed, and led to Esther's room, and laid
On Esther's bed, who sat beside her there,
With kind pretence of book and sewing-work,
Her two companions taking holiday
In a long ramble up the river-side.
Met Minta Summerfield, who seemed disturbed
And strangely sobered.
“Esther, some one 's sick
In the next house. I overheard the girls
Talking about her; saying that she mopes,
33
That when she speaks, 't is all in grand book-talk,
Learned as college-folks; they hinted, too,
That she was some fine lady in disgrace,
Come here to hide from sight.
“O, girls can be
So cruel to one another! I am vexed
That I am one, sometimes! Do, Esther, do
Go and look after her, or I shall rush
At those girls like a whirlwind.”
Esther smiled;
With a brief whisper smoothed out Minta's frown,
And disappeared.
Poor Ruth! There was no need
Of many words. To Esther's pleasant voice,
She yielded, like a child, and let herself
Be dressed, and led to Esther's room, and laid
On Esther's bed, who sat beside her there,
With kind pretence of book and sewing-work,
Her two companions taking holiday
In a long ramble up the river-side.
| An idyl of work | |