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II. Mistress Mary QuIte Contrary
He’sahunchback,andhe’shorrid.”
“Idon’tbelieveyou,”saidMary;andsheturnedherbackandstuckherfingersinherears,becauseshewouldnotlistenanymore.
Butshethoughtoveritagreatdealafterward;andwhenMrs.CrawfordtoldherthatnightthatshewasgoingtosailawaytoEnglandinafewdaysandgotoheruncle,Mr.ArchibaldCraven,wholivedatMisselthwaiteManor,shelookedsostonyandstubbornlyuninterestedthattheydidnotknowwhattothinkabouther.Theytriedtobekindtoher,butsheonlyturnedherfaceawaywhenMrs.Crawfordattemptedtokissher,andheldherselfstifflywhenMr.Crawfordpattedhershoulder.
“Sheissuchaplainchild,”Mrs.Crawfordsaidpityingly,afterward.“Andhermotherwassuchaprettycreature.Shehadaveryprettymanner,too,andMaryhasthemostunattractivewaysIeversawinachild.Thechildrencallher‘MistressMaryQuiteContrary,’andthoughit’snaughtyofthem,onecan’thelpunderstandingit.”
“PerhapsifhermotherhadcarriedherprettyfaceandherprettymannersoftenerintothenurseryMarymighthavelearnedsomeprettywaystoo.Itisverysad,nowthepoorbeautifulthingisgone,torememberthatmanypeopleneverevenknewthatshehadachildatall.”
“Ibelieveshescarcelyeverlookedather,”sighedMrs.Crawford.“WhenherAyahwasdeadtherewasnoonetogiveathoughttothelittlething.Thinkoftheservantsrunningawayandleavingherallaloneinthatdesertedbungalow.
