"You did 'em all. I never could've alone."
"Then"--Duty was justly complacent--"Then perhaps you'll be willing
to leave Rebecca Mary's going away to school to me. She must go at
once, as soon as you can get her read--"
Aunt Olivia tumbled off. She did not wait to pick herself up before
she turned upon this Duty that delighted in torturing her.
"You better get her ready yourself! You better let her down and make
her some nightgowns and count her pocket-handkerchiefs! You think
you can do anything--no, I'M talking now! I guess it's my turn.
I guess I've waited long enough. Maybe you brought Rebecca Mary up,
but I'm not going to leave it to you whether she'd ought to go away
to school. She's my Rebecca Mary, isn't she? Well? It's me that
loves her, isn't it--not you? If I can't love her and stay a Plummer, then I'll--love her. I'm going to leave it to the minister."
The minister was a little embarrassed. The wistful look in Aunt
Olivia's eyes said, "Say no" so plainly. And he knew he must say
yes--the minister's Duty was imperative, too.
"If she can't get any more good out of the school here--" he began.
"She can't," said Aunt Olivia's Duty for her. "The teacher says
she can't. Rebecca Mary's smart." Then Duty, too, was proud of
Rebecca Mary!
"I know she is," said the minister, heartily.
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