Then She Fled Me Read Online Free PDF

the three long windows which overlooked the water.
    “ Wouldn ’ t it be much simpler to put Mr. Flint in your father ’ s room which is never used? ” asked Aunt Em, and saw the girl stiffen.
    “ No, ” she said abruptly, and sat down on one of the deep window seats covered in nursery chintz.
    Her aunt sighed. Sometimes she thought that Sarah missed her father more than any of them realized. Kathy had been his favorite, but he and his younger daughter were very alike, and he had surprised them all by leaving Dun Rury to her.
    “ It ’ s just as you like, ” she said gently.
    Sarah looked up suddenly and her smile was one of great sweetness. She stretched out a hand and pulled her aunt down beside her.
    “ Dear Aunt Em, ” she said. “ I know you ’ ve always felt my mother was wasted, just as you think Kathy is wasted. But they were happy, you know. He was so proud of her—just as he came to be proud of Kathy because she was so like her. I remember him lifting me up in this very room and laughing at Mother and telling her she ’ d given him a changeling, and when she looked hurt, he kissed her and said: ‘ We cannot expect more than two perfect beauties in one family. ’ ”
    Aunt Em ’ s gentle heart knew a moment ’ s compunction. She looked at her niece humbly, remembering her own childho o d enslaved by beauty. So many careless words, so many u nthinking actions, forgetting that children understood and rem embered.
    “ Sarah , ” she said tentatively, “ were you hurt by such remarks as a child? You ’ re not plain, dear, you know. You must never — ”
    But Sarah fingered her high cheekbones and laughed.
    “ Plain? I ’ ve never thought about it. I don ’ t need to— when Kathy ’ s around. No, dear Aunt Em, I wasn ’ t hu r t, except sometimes by Father, but that wasn ’ t his fault I loved him too much. ”
    Aunt Em was silent, realizing an old truth for the first time. Kathy would never be hurt by life as Sarah might, for she would never love too much.
    “ They are the lucky ones, ” she said aloud, and at Sarah ’ s questioning eyebrows added: “ Kathy and your mother. ”
    But Sarah did not understand. She only said, gently reassuring her aunt:
    “Kathy will be all right. Kathy will marry Joe. ”
    “Joe?”
    “Don’t you think Joe’s good enough?”
    “Oh, yes, dear, of course. He’s a gentleman and will have a little money eventually. It’s onl y—”
    “ He ’ s more than that, ” said Sarah sternly. “ He ’ s kind and faithful—and good. Joe would never hurt anyone. ”
    “ No, dear, ” said her aunt, and felt rebuked.
    In the snug below them, Mrs. Sullivan ’ s youngest was thumping out The Merry Peasant. Sarah stood up and stretched.
    “ This is a nice room, ” she said with satisfaction. “ Mr. Flint will have to be a very crotchety old gentleman, indeed, if he doesn ’ t like it. We ’ ll get Joe over for the weekend to help Nolan shift the furniture around. ”
    They were still awaiting replies from their prospect iv e guests. Joe had drafted and typed Sarah ’ s letters for her, but she had insisted on adding to his rather formal phrasing: “ We live simply but you will be afforded every home comfort. ”
    “ And what home comforts are you prepared to offer, may I ask? ” enquired Joe dryly. “ Meals at all hours and an erratic hot water system? ”
    “ Pouff! ” said Sarah grandly. “ That ’ s not the same thing at all. The English expect discomfort in Ireland. Home comforts mean sharing our jokes, admiring Kathy and doing what they like. ”
    “ I see. ” His eyes twinkled. “ Well, I hope they ’ll share your views, especially the old gentleman who ’ll most likely be calling for hot possets at all hours of the day and night .”
    “ He can cook his own, ” said Sarah firmly, “ on a spirit lamp in his room. ”
    The weekend was fine. Between cleaning and furniture moving, Joe and Sarah swam in the lough and they all went for a