Tattycoram Read Free

cheek. It was as though there were tiny hairs on the ends of his fingers, like the hairs on the bumblebee, collecting something from me that he might want for later use. I noticed he did not do this to Jonnie, but Jonnie was a boy and boys were not overfond of being touched.
    Mother did mending and some fancy work for the Misses Bray. One day, she scrubbed us hard with yellow soap and took us with her. We saw a barn cat crossing the yard with a kitten in her mouth.
    â€œIt doesn’t hurt them,” Miss Louisa said. ”The skin is very loose there, where she holds them.”
    â€œWhy is she moving them?”
    â€œOh, something has bothered her, she’s decided they would be safer under the house.”
    The kittens wore patches of brown and black and white; their eyes weren’t open yet.
    â€œCould we have one, Mammy? Could we have a little kitten?”
    â€œThey are too young to leave their mother,” Miss Amelia said.
    â€œBut when they are not too young? Could we have one then?”
    I looked up earnestly from where my brother and I were squatting to admire the kittens not yet moved. I caught my mother and the two sisters exchanging glances.
    â€œPlease, Mammy. I’ll take good care and Jonnie will help me.”
    â€œWe’ll see.”
    We said our goodbyes and walked away towards home, swinging our arms, my mother unusually silent, for she often sang when she was out on a walk with us.
    That evening, after tea, they sat me down in my little chair, my throne.
    â€œHattie,” my mother said, “we have never made a secret of the fact that you are on loan to us from the good people at the hospital. We have loved you as our own little daughter and watched you grow. But now the time is coming when we must give you back.” Her voice broke and she sobbed into her apron.
    â€œWhy?” I said, frightened, looking from one to the other. Father shook his head and said nothing, Sam sat silent, but Grandfather lifted me up and set me on his knee.
    â€œThat’s the rules, Hattie. You would have gone last year except you had the scarlatina, and the Governors waited to be sure you were fit again, wanted to give you some extra months here in the country before you were removed.”
    â€œAnd will Jonnie go too?”
    â€œNo, Jonnie will stay here.”
    â€œWhy, why will Jonnie stay? I’ve been a good girl, I’ve been as good as Jonnie.”
    â€œThe rule doesn’t apply to Jonnie, love, only to you.”
    â€œWhy only to me?”
    â€œBecause you were lent us, from the Foundling, but Jonnie — Jonnie comes from here.”
    I slid down off Grandfather’s knee.
    â€œI won’t go! I don’t want to go!” I ran to my mother and pulled the apron from her face.
    â€œMam, don’t make me go. I’ll be gooder . . . I’ll help. Don’t make me go!”
    â€œI can’t change the rules, Hattie. I wish I could.”
    â€œIs that why I can’t have a kitten? I won’t be here when they’re old enough?”
    She nodded.
    â€œPerhaps,” said Grandfather, but without much conviction, “there will be kittens at the Foundling.”
    I struck out, in my terror and helplessness, at the very people who loved me. I could not understand why they couldn’t help me. I picked up Baby and threw her at Jonnie, who was allowed to stay. The doll hit him smack in the middle of the forehead and he began to cry. Good.
    â€œI hate you all,” I cried, and rushed out the door, sobbing bitterly. Grandfather soon caught up with me. He took my hand and said nothing, just stood beside me until the worst of the storm had passed. Then he bent down, told me to climb onto his shoulders, and carried me home. Mother bathed my face with cool cloths, then took me up to bed. She brought Jonnie up; he had a lump on his head like his wooden egg.
    â€œHattie, tell your brother you are sorry for what you