In her agony, she
would have been willing to have torn her dress; but it was her
travelling-dress, and too stout to tear. She might cut it carefully.
Alas, she had packed her scissors, and her knife she had lent to the
little boys the day before! She called again. What silence there was
in the house! Her voice seemed to echo through the room. At
length, as she listened, she heard the sound of wheels.
Was it the carriage, rolling away from the side door? Did she hear
the front door shut? She remembered then that Amanda was to
"have the day." But she, Elizabeth Eliza, was to have spoken to
Amanda, to explain to her to wait for the expressman. She was to
have told her as she went downstairs. But she had not been able to
go downstairs! And Amanda must have supposed that all the
family had left, and she, too, must have gone, knowing of the
expressman. Yes, she heard the wheels! She heard the front door
shut!
But could they have gone without her? Then she recalled that she
had proposed walking on a little way with Solomon John and her
father, to be picked up by Mrs. Peterkin, if she should have
finished her packing in time. Her mother must have supposed that
she had done so,that she had spoken to Amanda, and started with
the rest. Well, she would soon discover her mistake. She would
overtake the walking party, and, not finding Elizabeth Eliza,
would return for her.
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