Page 341 - LITTLE WOMEN

Little Women

‘To you and your sisters. I know it, Madame confides
in me. I witnessed her will, and it is to be so,’ whispered
Esther smiling.
‘How nice! But I wish she’d let us have them now.

Procrastination is not agreeable,’ observed Amy, taking a
last look at the diamonds.
‘It is too soon yet for the young ladies to wear these
things. The first one who is affianced will have the pearls,
Madame has said it, and I have a fancy that the little
turquoise ring will be given to you when you go, for
Madame approves your good behavior and charming
manners.’
‘Do you think so? Oh, I’ll be a lamb, if I can only have
that lovely ring! It’s ever so much prettier than Kitty
Bryant’s. I do like Aunt March after all.’ And Amy tried
on the blue ring with a delighted face and a firm resolve to
earn it.
From that day she was a model of obedience, and the
old lady complacently admired the success of her training.
Esther fitted up the closet with a little table, placed a
footstool before it, and over it a picture taken from one of
the shut-up rooms. She thought it was of no great value,
but, being appropriate, she borrowed it, well knowing that
Madame would never know it, nor care if she did. It was,

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