Read Online Perdita by Hilary Scharper - Free Book Online Page A

stepped into the water to rescue Allan, who was bellowing that he was drowning and thoroughly enjoying all thecommotion.
    I must have been nursing my arm, though I don’t recall that it was really hurting me—but Uncle Gil saw me and asked me about it. I so wished he hadn’t, but I think Uncle Gil was vexed at George’s rough manner. George was very sorry for pulling me back so hard, and he apologized twice. And then he inquired if I were wet and seemed anxious that I should be dry, for there was a wind stirring, and it is true that the air is still a little chill. I am sure that I was brusque in my response and awkward. I do not like to be fussedover.
    When I started to walk back, he escorted me to the gate and seemed so anxious that I truly regretted revealing my discomfort. I suppose that my arm did hurt a little, but it was an inconsequential thing, and I was sorry for Uncle G.’s remark. George peered anxiously into my face—it was very peculiar—and he said, “You are not really injured, are you?” I was strangely pleased but also embarrassed by these inquiries. And then I could not look at him and said I had to get back home. I ran all the way back to our cottage like afool!
    May 17
    Uncle Gil says the Stewarts always bring trouble with them. He says the Peninsula is no place for the cottagers and the holiday boaters, and that they should take their amusements to safer waters and not endanger the lives of the men who have to fish them out of the Bay when their boatscapsize.
    But I don’t care what he says. I am glad the holiday families are here. It means the summer iscoming.
    Uncle Gil can be quite severe about the boaters, but I think it is because of his time at French River. Auntie Alis told me that he was a river man there, and that in the spring he used to herd the logs into booms as the ice was melting. She said that was how he injured his back so badly one year—that he fell one time and the logs crushed him. But he is still very strong—Tad says that he is stronger than Flore even, and it is true, I think. I have seen him unhitch her and pull our sled through the snow byhimself.
    Tad says the blackflies will be bad this year—he feels it in his bones. Honestly, between Father and Mr. Samuels’s bones, we shall have a forecast for the entiresummer!
    May 18
    Mrs. Stewart arrived today with Effie and her newborn girl. Oh, she is an adorable little baby, and Effie has become so fat and pleased with herself. I cannot believe she is just two years older than I am and now she has a baby! She is like a ripe, red berry and looked quite funny in her tight clothes. Effie is Mrs. Stewart’s cousin—or her cousin’s daughter rather, but she calls her Aunt. Her husband owns several ships, and his business is mostly in Owen Sound. Auntie Alis says Effie married well and that they are quitewealthy.
    I suppose that we are poor. I haven’t thought about it very much, but it is true that Effie has many more dresses than I do, and I have only one really fancy dress. It was Mother’s, and she said it is from Paris—I adore it. It is so mysterious—a dark blue velvet, almost black. Auntie Alis told me Mother comes from money. It was my grandfather who paid for my schooling. But why doesn’t he come to us, then? Auntie A. won’t tell me, but I think he and Tad do not care for each other. Perhaps he blames Tad for Mother’sillness.
    Effie gave me a beautiful shawl—it is a wonderful, mysterious green color and fringed. It is so soft and very warm. I dearly love it! Effie has ever been generous to me. She let me hold the baby—just for a minute—and Corrie (that is her nickname for Corine) patted my nose with her little hands. We all laughed, and Effie said that she liked me. She is such a darling, little, littlething.
    But Allan…oh dear, it was awful. He snatched her from me and began bouncing her about. Effie screamed and