I thought--" "Yes, I'll warrant you thought," said Aunt Maria, with undisguised viciousness.

"But you were mistaken; I am not going to stay." "But I don't see exactly--" "Oh, Lord, you and Maria can take your meals at Mrs.Jonas White's, she'll be glad enough to have you; and you can hire the cleaning done," said Aunt Maria, with a certain pity in the midst of her disappointment and contempt.
It seemed to Maria, when her aunt went away that afternoon, as if she could not bear it.

There is a law of gravitation for the soul as well as for the body, and Maria felt as one who had fallen from a known quantity into strangeness, with a horrible shock.
"Now, if she don't treat you well, you send word, and I'll have you come and stay with me," whispered Aunt Maria at the last.
Maria loved Aunt Maria when she went away.

She went to school late for the sake of seeing her off; and she was late in the geography class, but Miss Slome only greeted her with a smile of radiant reassurance.
At recess, Gladys Mann snuggled up to her.
"Say, is it true ?" she whispered.
"Is what true ?" "Is your father goin' to get married to teacher ?" "Yes," said Maria.

Then she gave Gladys a little push.