Part 30

“Because you know,” said Jim, observant of the tear, but ruthless, “that you haven't any big sister Solly, and never did have. You are getting us all in an awful mess over it, and father is rector here, and mother is his wife, and I am his son, and you are his niece, and it is downright mean. Why do you tell such whoppers? Out with it!”

Content was trembling violently. “I lived with Aunt Eudora,” she whispered.

“Well, what of that? Other folks have lived with their aunts and not told whoppers.”

“They haven't lived with Aunt Eudora.”

“You ought to be ashamed of yourself, Content Adams, and you the rector's niece, talking that way about dead folks.”

“I don't mean to talk about poor Aunt Eudora,” fairly sobbed Content. “Aunt Eudora was a real good aunt, but she was grown up. She was a good deal more grown up than your mother; she really was, and when I first went to live with her I was 'most a little baby; I couldn't speak--plain, and I had to go to bed real early, and slept 'way off from everybody, and I used to be afraid--all alone, and so--”

“Well, go on,” said Jim, but his voice was softer. It WAS hard lines for a little kid, especially if she was a girl.

“And so,” went on the little, plaintive voice, “I got to thinking how nice it would be if I only had a big sister, and I used to cry and say to myself--I couldn't speak plain, you know, I was so little-'Big sister would be real solly.' And then first thing I knew--she came.”

“Who came?”

“Big sister Solly.”

“What rot! She didn't come. Content Adams, you know she didn't come.”

“She must have come,” persisted the little girl, in a frightened whisper. “She must have. Oh, Jim, you don't know. Big sister Solly must have come, or I would have died like my father and mother.”

Jim's arm, which was near her, twitched convulsively, but he did not put it around her.

“She did--co-me,” sobbed Content. “Big sister Solly did come.”

“Well, have it so,” said Jim, suddenly. “No use going over that any longer. Have it she came, but she ain't here now, anyway. Content Adams, you can't look me in the face and tell me that.”

Content looked at Jim, and her little face was almost terrible, so full of bewilderment and fear it was. “Jim,” whispered Content, “I can't have big sister Solly not be here. I can't send her away. What would she think?”

Jim stared. “Think? Why, she isn't alive to think, anyhow!”

“I can't make her--dead,” sobbed Content. “She came when I wanted her, and now when I don't so much, when I've got Uncle Edward and Aunt Sally and you, and don't feel so dreadful lonesome, I can't be so bad as to make her dead.”

Jim whistled. Then his face brightened up. He looked at Content with a shrewd and cheerful grin. “See here, kid, you say your sister Solly is big, grown up, don't you?” he inquired.

Content nodded pitifully.

“Then why, if she is grown up and pretty, don't she have a beau?”

Content stopped sobbing and gave him a quick glance.

“Then--why doesn't she get married, and go out West to live?”

Jim chuckled. Instead of a sob, a faint echo of his chuckle came from Content.

Jim laughed merrily. “I say, Content,” he cried, “let's have it she's married now, and gone?”

“Well,” said Content.

Jim put his arm around her very nicely and protectingly. “It's all right, then,” said he, “as all right as it can be for a girl. Say, Content, ain't it a shame you aren't a boy?”

“I can't help it,” said Content, meekly.