I Tried Not to Be

           Itwaspretty,comfortableMrs.Carmichaelwhoexplainedeverything.Shewassentforatonce,andcameacrossthesquaretotakeSaraintoherwarmarmsandmakecleartoherallthathadhappened.TheexcitementofthetotallyunexpecteddiscoveryhadbeentemporarilyalmostoverpoweringtoMr.Carrisfordinhisweakcondition.

           "Uponmyword,"hesaidfaintlytoMr.Carmichael,whenitwassuggestedthatthelittlegirlshouldgointoanotherroom."IfeelasifIdonotwanttolosesightofher."

           "Iwilltakecareofher,"Janetsaid,"andmammawillcomeinafewminutes."AnditwasJanetwholedheraway.

           "We’resogladyouarefound,"shesaid."Youdon’tknowhowgladwearethatyouarefound."

           Donaldstoodwithhishandsinhispockets,andgazedatSarawithreflectingandself-reproachfuleyes.

           "IfI’djustaskedwhatyournamewaswhenIgaveyoumysixpence,"hesaid,"youwouldhavetoldmeitwasSaraCrewe,andthenyouwouldhavebeenfoundinaminute."ThenMrs.Carmichaelcamein.Shelookedverymuchmoved,andsuddenlytookSarainherarmsandkissedher.

           "Youlookbewildered,poorchild,"shesaid."Anditisnottobewonderedat."

           Saracouldonlythinkofonething.

           "Washe,"shesaid,withaglancetowardthecloseddoorofthelibrary—"wasHEthewickedfriend?Oh,dotellme!"

           Mrs.Carmichaelwascryingasshekissedheragain.Shefeltasifsheoughttobekissedveryoftenbecauseshehadnotbeenkissedforsolong.

           "Hewasnotwicked,mydear,"sheanswered.