Read Online Emily of New Moon by L. M. Montgomery - Free Book Online

relief. “And if I’m going to catch that train I’ve got to hurry. Of course, as far as the matter of expense goes, Elizabeth, I’ll do my share.”
    â€œWe are not paupers at New Moon,” said Aunt Elizabeth rather coldly. “Since it has fallen to me to take her, I shall do all that is necessary, Wallace. I do not shirk my duty.”
    â€œ I am her duty,” thought Emily. “Father said nobody ever liked a duty. So Aunt Elizabeth will never like me.”
    â€œYou’ve got more of the Murray pride than all the rest of us put together, Elizabeth,” laughed Uncle Wallace.
    They all followed him out—all except Aunt Laura. She came up to Emily, standing alone in the middle of the room, and drew her into her arms.
    â€œI’m so glad, Emily—I’m so glad,” she whispered. “Don’t fret, dear child. I love you already—and New Moon is a nice place, Emily.”
    â€œIt has—a pretty name,” said Emily, struggling for self-control. “I’ve—always hoped—I could go with you, Aunt Laura. I think I am going to cry—but it’s not because I’m sorry I’m going there. My manners are not as bad as you may think, Aunt Laura—and I wouldn’t have listened last night if I’d known it was wrong.”
    â€œOf course you wouldn’t,” said Aunt Laura.
    â€œBut I’m not a Murray, you know.”
    Then Aunt Laura said a queer thing—for a Murray.
    â€œThank heaven for that!” said Aunt Laura.
    Cousin Jimmy followed Emily out and overtook her in the little hall. Looking carefully around to ensure privacy, he whispered,
    â€œYour Aunt Laura is a great hand at making an apple turnover, pussy.”
    Emily thought apple turnover sounded nice, though she did not know what it was. She whispered back a question which she would never have dared ask Aunt Elizabeth or even Aunt Laura.
    â€œCousin Jimmy, when they make a cake at New Moon, will they let me scrape out the mixing-bowl and eat the scrapings?”
    â€œLaura will—Elizabeth won’t,” whispered Cousin Jimmy solemnly.
    â€œAnd put my feet in the oven when they get cold? And have a cookie before I go to bed?”
    â€œAnswer same as before,” said Cousin Jimmy. “ I’ll recite my poetry to you. It’s very few people I do that for. I’ve composed a thousand poems. They’re not written down—I carry them here.” Cousin Jimmy tapped his forehead.
    â€œIs it very hard to write poetry?” asked Emily, looking with new respect at Cousin Jimmy.
    â€œEasy as rolling off a log if you can find enough rhymes,” said Cousin Jimmy.
    They all went away that morning except the New Moon people. Aunt Elizabeth announced that they would stay until the next day to pack up and take Emily with them.
    â€œMost of the furniture belongs to the house,” she said, “so it won’t take us long to get ready. There are only Douglas Starr’s books and his few personal belongings to pack.”
    â€œHow shall I carry my cats?” asked Emily anxiously.
    Aunt Elizabeth stared.
    â€œCats! You’ll take no cats, miss.”
    â€œOh, I must take Mike and Saucy Sal!” cried Emily wildly. “I can’t leave them behind. I can’t live without a cat.”
    â€œNonsense! There are barn cats at New Moon, but they are never allowed in the house.”
    â€œDon’t you like cats?” asked Emily wonderingly.
    â€œNo, I do not .”
    â€œDon’t you like the feel of a nice, soft, fat cat?” persisted Emily.
    â€œNo; I would as soon touch a snake.”
    â€œThere’s a lovely old wax doll of your mother’s up there,” said Aunt Laura. “I’ll dress it up for you.”
    â€œI don’t like dolls—they can’t talk,” exclaimed Emily.
    â€œNeither can cats.”
    â€œOh, can’t they! Mike and Saucy Sal can.