Anne of Windy Poplars - L. M. Montgomery [104]
I asked Elizabeth about it, and she told me.
‘I thought God might pay more attention to a letter than a prayer,’ she said. ‘I’ve prayed so long. He must get so many prayers.’
That night I wrote to her father.
Before I close I must tell you about Dusty Miller. Some time ago Aunt Kate told me that she felt she must find another home for him, because Rebecca Dew kept complaining about him so that she felt she really could not endure it any longer. One evening last week when I came home from school there was no Dusty Miller. Aunt Chatty said they had given him to Mrs Edmonds, who lives on the other side of Summerside from Windy Willows. I felt sorry, for Dusty Miller and I have been excellent friends. ‘But at least,’ I thought, ‘Rebecca Dew will be a happy woman.’
Rebecca was away for the day, having gone to the country to help a relative hook rugs. When she returned at dusk nothing was said, but at bed-time, when she was calling Dusty Miller from the back porch, Aunt Kate said quietly, ‘You needn’t call Dusty Miller, Rebecca. He is not here. We have found a home for him elsewhere. You will not be bothered with him any more.’
If Rebecca Dew could have turned pale she would have done so.
Not here? Found a home for him? Good grief! Isn’t this his home?’
‘We have given him to Mrs Edmonds. She has been very lonely since her daughter married, and thought a nice cat would be company.’
Rebecca Dew came in and shut the door. She looked very wild.
‘This is the last straw!’ she said. And, indeed, it seemed to be. I’ve never seen Rebecca Dew’s eyes emit such sparkles of rage. ‘I’ll be leaving at the end of the month, Mrs MacComber, and sooner if you can be suited.’
‘But, Rebecca,’ said Aunt Kate in bewilderment, ‘I don’t understand. You’ve always disliked Dusty Miller. Only last week you said –’
‘That’s right,’ said Rebecca bitterly. ‘Cast things up to me! Don’t have any regard for my feelings! That poor dear Cat! I’ve waited on him and pampered him and got up nights to let him in. And now he’s been spirited away behind my back without so much as a by-your-leave. And to Jane Edmonds, who wouldn’t buy a bit of liver for the poor creature if he was dying for it! The only company I had in the kitchen!’
‘But, Rebecca, you’ve always –’
‘Oh, keep on, keep on! Don’t let me get a word in edgewise, Mrs MacComber. I’ve raised that cat from a kitten. I’ve looked after his health and his morals. And what for? That Jane Edmonds should have a well-trained cat for company. Well, I hope she’ll stand out in the frost at nights, as I’ve done, calling that cat for hours rather than leave him out to freeze; but I doubt it. I seriously doubt it. Well, Mrs MacComber, all I hope is that your conscience won’t trouble you the next time it’s ten below zero. I won’t sleep a wink when it happens, but, of course, that doesn’t matter an old shoe to anyone.’
‘Rebecca, if you would only –’
‘Mrs MacComber, I am not a worm, neither am I a doormat. Well, this has been a lesson for me – a valuable lesson! Never again will I allow my affections to twine themselves around an animal of any kind or description. And if you’d done it open and above-board… But behind my back – taking advantage of me like that! I never heard of anything so dirt mean. But who am I that I should expect my feelings to be considered?’
‘Rebecca,’ said Aunt Kate desperately, ‘if you want Dusty Miller back we can get him back.’
‘Why didn’t you say so before, then?’ demanded Rebecca Dew. ‘And I doubt it. Jane Edmonds has got her claws in him. Is it likely she’ll give him up?’
‘I think she will,’ said Aunt Kate, who had apparently reverted to jelly. ‘And if he comes back you won’t leave us, will you,