Emma Field Book I - coming of age in the changing times of the mid-19th century

Chapter XXXI - Establishing Herself

"I must be going," said Emma to her Aunt Ashling two days later. With new assurance in her voice, she continued. "I have spoken with the Coopers to make certain that you may remain here. They are happy to have you. You will find them to be good people. I am going back to the boarding school. They can use my services for a period of time."

"But you are family, Emma. Surely it isn't right for you to be living amongst such queer folk when your family is here."

"Perhaps not, but I think it to be best. And you would find them really kind and nice if you knew them. I would like to take this blanket to put my clothes in," she said of the rough blue and white blanket on her settle, "but you may have the rest. Father would want you to have it."

"Nothing else?"

"I...I would like to have the box in the cupboard. It was my mother's. I'm not sure why it matters to me so much, but it does...but that would be all...if that would be all right."

•

"I can see that thee is quite certain about this," said Elizabeth as she took the box and bundled blanket from Emma. "Thee understands that thee will be staying with the girls on the upper floor and that we can only offer thee room and board in exchange for thy help."

"Yes, I understand all of that perfectly," said Emma with certainty. "And I will work hard, Elizabeth Bowerman. You need only tell me what to do. I will not be a burden to you or to the others. If you require a bed for a paying student, I will sleep on the floor."

"I understand, but there will be no need for that. Let me show thee to the upper floor. And Emma, thee need not call me by my last name – 'Elizabeth' will suffice."

Their footsteps echoed as they climbed the last flight of stairs to the immense but spartan room of the attic.

"It's dark up here," said Emma looking to the single windows on either end of the sweeping row of single beds.

"That it is. And I am afraid that it is rather cool too. I am glad that thee brought a blanket. This is where Vera sleeps," Elizabeth patted the second-last bed. "And this is for thee. I hope that it is not too cold against this west wall. Please tell me if it is. Thy box could go under thy bed. I hope that thee is comfortable, Emma. Settle thy possessions. I will return to peeling potatoes."

"I will be right down. And Elizabeth...now that I am living here...am I expected to speak as you do?"

"Thee must be thyself. When thee is thyself, thee is what God wanted thee to be. I am glad that thee chose to return to us, Emma. I was afraid that my desire to have thee here was not of God, but now I know that it was. Welcome."

"Thank you. I will be down to help you in a moment."

Emma yanked the sandy brown blanket from the bottom of the bed and tucked in her own blanket.

"Hello," called a voice from the stairs. Emma jumped.

"Oh, you frightened me. I didn't hear you coming. I'm sorry. Hello. It's Prue, isn't it?"

"Yes." The girl in the grey cotton dress smiled and held out her hand. "I'm not wearing my boots – they are too muddy. That's why thee didn't hear me. I was just bringing this back." Prue held up a small red book.

"That's the same colour as my box – it's ox-blood red," said Emma. "What is your book about?"

"I don't know," replied Prue. "It's still being written. It's an autograph album. Have you ever heard of them? This one belongs to Mary Jemima, one of the other girls. She has asked me to write in it – something nice – something she will be able to remember me by. See, this is what she wrote on the first page."