A Lion to Guard Us Read Free Page A

next ship,” she said.
    â€œThere will be ships going next month,” he said. “How many are you?”
    â€œThree.”
    â€œYour names?”
    â€œJemmy and Meg, and I’m Amanda.”
    â€œIs Meg your mother?”
    â€œNo, sir. My mother is dead. Meg is my sister.”
    â€œHow old is your sister?”
    â€œFive.”
    â€œHow old is Jemmy?”
    â€œEight.”
    â€œBut—you’re only children. You can’t go to the New World with no one to look after you.”
    â€œI can look after us.”
    â€œNo, that won’t do. We might find someone to look after you on the voyage, but that would take money—”
    â€œI have money,” she said.
    â€œHow much?”
    â€œI don’t know, but—”
    â€œSee here, little girl, this is a busy place, and I’m a busy man.” He dipped his pen into the ink and went back to writing.
    â€œPlease—” she began, but he didn’t speak to her or look at her again.
    She went home. The pail was still behind the currant bush. She took it to the pump and filled it.
    When she carried it into the kitchen, Cook asked, “What kept you?”
    Amanda set down the pail of water.
    â€œYou went to that place, didn’t you?” asked Cook. “ Didn’t you?”
    â€œYes,” said Amanda.
    â€œWait till I tell Mistress Trippett.”
    â€œI’m going to tell her myself.” Amanda started upstairs.
    Cook gave a scream. “You can’t go up the front stairs!”
    Amanda went on. She knocked at the door of Mistress Trippett’s sitting room.
    â€œWho is it?” came Mistress Trippett’s voice.
    â€œIf it please you, ma’am—”
    Mistress Trippett opened the door. Her wig was off. She looked angry. “What are you doing up here?”
    â€œI wanted to tell you—I went to the house where the Virginia Company is.”
    â€œWell?”
    â€œThere are ships going to the New World next month.”
    â€œWell?”
    â€œJemmy and Meg and I—we’re going.”
    Mistress Trippett’s mouth was thin. “I thought you’d put that nonsense out of your head.”
    â€œOh, no, ma’am. We have to go where Father is.
    â€œYour father doesn’t want you. He forgot about you long ago.”
    â€œNo—” began Amanda.
    â€œEven if he did want you, you’d be a fool to go. Virginia is a terrible place, full of wild Indians and wild beasts. All those tales about the New World and how wonderful it is—they’re lies, all lies!”
    â€œBut we have to go—”
    â€œYou have to do nothing of the kind. I’ve fed you and put clothes on your back. I’ve given you the best home you’ve ever had. Would you give up all this? Would you go starve in a strange land where you’d never come out alive?”
    â€œFather—”
    â€œWhat has your father done for you? Ask yourself that. Then ask yourself what I’ve done for you!” And Mistress Trippett slammed the door.

VI
Out the Door
    That evening Amanda and Ellie met in the pantry. “I heard Mistress Trippett,” said Ellie. “She doesn’t want you to go.”
    â€œBut she knew we were going to the New World,” said Amanda. “Mother told her that when we came here.”
    â€œShe thought you’d forget about it,” said Ellie. “She wants to keep you here. You work hard, and you don’t eat much. And Jemmy and Meg are coming on. She’ll put them to work, too, and you’ll all be working free.”
    â€œOh!” said Amanda. “I forgot to ask about the money.”
    â€œMoney?”
    â€œWhen Father went away, he sold our house. He gave the money to Mother, and she kept it in a purse. Mistress Trippett has it.”
    â€œHow do you know?”
    â€œMother had it on a string around her neck. That day she fell downstairs, Cook and I put her to bed.