Cornelli Page 4

  Esther, the able mistress of the kitchen, was standing in the gardenpicking green peas, which hung in clusters from the vines. They hadripened quickly in the sunny June weather.

  "Come down here, Cornelli!" she called. "Just see how many peas thereare! Why do you steal about so quietly nowadays, and why don't you runthe way you used to?"

  "I am not allowed to do anything any more," replied Cornelli,approaching her. "Mina is beginning to tell me that I even must notjump, for it might tangle my hair. I wish I had not a single hair left;then I could at least run and jump about."

  "No, no, child; that would look too dreadful. Just imagine it! Butdon't get sad on account of that," Esther consoled her. "Just jumparound as before! Your hair can always be put in order again. Whyhaven't you come into the kitchen lately to see if things taste right?"

  "I am not allowed to; Miss Dorner says that is bad manners," Cornelliinformed her.

  "Oh, I see! Well, you might do worse things. However, you must obey!Yes, you have to obey," Esther repeated. "Don't you go to Miss Minaany more, either, when she fixes the dessert?"

  Cornelli shook her head.

  Miss Mina had quickly understood the new order that had begun in thehousehold and accordingly had suited herself to it. When she thoughtthe ladies would not approve of an old custom, she dropped it quickly,and Cornelli had soon noticed her change of attitude.

  "I don't care if I never can go to the pantry any more, I don't care,"Cornelli exploded now. "She can eat all the things herself which dropbeside the plate. I don't care. I don't want anything as long as I cango to the little kid in the stable; it really is the most cunningcreature in the whole world. Have you seen it yet, Esther?"

  "Certainly I have, and why not?" the cook replied. "Matthew took meout to the stable as soon as it was born. You can certainly go to seeit as long as it is in our own stable. Just go there as much as youlike! Nobody can forbid you that."

  "My teacher is coming," Cornelli now exclaimed, "and I have to go."

  "Yes, child, but do keep up your spirits. There are lots of pleasantthings still left for you to enjoy. Just wait till you taste thestrawberry tarts I am going to make to-day."

  With these words Esther smacked her lips to express the great succulenceof the promised dish.

  "I wouldn't even care if you baked nettle tarts; I wish I didn't haveto eat at table and could just eat berries in the garden and drinkmilk in the stable."

  Cornelli ran towards the house, for she had forgotten to walk sedately,as she had been told to do.

  While Cornelli had her lessons upstairs in the living room, in thejessamine arbor both ladies were sitting on a garden bench.

  "It would be so pleasant and agreeable here," said Miss Dorner, "andmy cousin could have such a very charming life, if the child were onlya little different. Don't you think, Betty, that she has no mannerswhatever?"

  "Yes, but she has had no training at all." remarked Miss Grideelen;"and she may have inherited some qualities from her mother."

  "Oh no, not a single trait! You cannot possibly imagine a greaterdifference than between the mother and this child," Miss Dornerexclaimed. "Cornelia was full of amiability and gayety. She alwaysgreeted and cheered everyone with her laughing brown eyes. If my cousincould only have the happiness to see his child resemble her mother theslightest bit! He was so fond of his wife! He deserves this joy, forhe is a splendid man."

  "It is curious how very different children can be from their parents,"said Miss Grideelen with regret in her voice. "But I am sure thatsomething can still be accomplished by educating the child. Manyqualities can be developed that hardly show themselves yet. We oughtto do our best for her, especially for her father's sake."

  "That is just what I am doing, Betty. Unfortunately, I have had verylittle success as yet," answered Miss Dorner. "But I just hope thatthe day will come when I can write her father some pleasant news aboutCornelli, something different from what I feel obliged to send himnow."

  The day had been exceedingly hot, and the ladies retired to their roomsimmediately after dinner, while Cornelli, according to her custom,obediently did her lessons. Then she disappeared. In the late evening,when the ladies sat down to supper, it was so warm that Miss Mina wasordered to open all the windows.

  Now Cornelli entered.

  "For mercy's sake, what are you thinking of!" the cousin accosted thechild. "We are nearly perishing with the heat and you put on a furdress, which you could wear without a coat in a sleigh ride in themiddle of winter. Why do you do such foolish things?"

  Cornelli was really attired very strangely. Her little dress was madeof such heavy, fur-like material that one could see it was meant forthe coldest winter weather, and for someone who disliked much outerclothing. The child's cheeks were glowing red, and from the insufferableheat whole streams of perspiration trickled down her face.

  "I have no more dresses left," she said stubbornly.

  "Can you understand it?" asked the cousin, looking at her friend.

  "I really think that this is the fifth dress in which I have seenCornelli to-day," answered the friend. "In the early morning I saw herrunning across the yard in a dark dress. At breakfast she wore a lightfrock and for lunch a red one. I believe that she wore a blue dresswhen we had our coffee this afternoon, so this must be the fifthcostume. I was beginning at lunch time to wonder about the frequentchanges."

  "I have to change my dress every time I go to the stable," Cornellisaid, a little more stubbornly than before.

  "How can anybody be so foolish!" exclaimed the cousin now. "I canunderstand now why you have no fun and why you always wear an unhappyface. You must be nearly perished with the heat! Finish your supperquickly and then go to your room and take off this heavy dress. Yousurely have another dress. I must forbid you to go to the stable fromnow on! You can see for yourself what comes of it! If only you wouldnot frown like this, Cornelli. You look exactly as if you had twolittle horns growing on your forehead, one on each side. There aremany other and better amusements for you than spending your life inthe stable. Are you able to embroider?"

  "No," Cornelli answered curtly.

  "Children of your age ought to be able to, though," said the cousin."But we have not come here to teach you that; have we, Betty? Youprobably do not even know how to hold the needle in your hand."

  "Why should it be necessary for Cornelli to learn embroidery just now?"replied the friend. "She has lovely books that she can read; she hasshown us some herself. Don't you prefer reading a pretty story torunning about in the stable, child?"

  "No, I don't," replied Cornelli crossly.

  "We must not pay attention to what she says," remarked Miss Dorner."When Cornelli is bored, she will probably turn to her books herself.Please, Miss Mina, keep an eye on Cornelli. Nonsense like this mustnot happen any more."

  When supper was finished, Cornelli went up to her room, and Miss Minafollowed her.

  "You certainly don't need to do such silly things," she said scoldingly,as soon as they were on the stairs, where her words could not beoverheard. "I have enough to do nowadays without watching whether youput on a new dress every few hours."

  "It isn't my fault," Cornelli replied morosely. "They ordered me to doit."

  "They won't always smell it when you have been to the stable," scoldedMiss Mina.

  "Yes, but they do smell it," Cornelli retorted, "and even if theydidn't, I should have to obey. They told me to change every time I goto the stable."

  "Yes, but now you are told not to go there any more, remember that!--soyour frequent changing will have to stop," grumbled Miss Mina, whileshe was helping Cornelli to take off her hot dress.

  "Now I have to clean it, besides! You actually give more work than sixwell brought up children." Miss Mina had never before spoken so roughlyto Cornelli, for she had always been anxious to keep in the child'sgood graces. But she had suddenly ceased to care about that.

  Cornelli looked at her with astonishment. The child's eyes were alsofull of somethin
g that nobody had ever seen there before. Mina seemedto understand: "I did not do you any harm," she said quickly; "whatI have said is only the truth." With that she left the room.

  "If everybody treats me that way I'll be that way, too," cried Cornelliwith a furious look. Suddenly taking hold of the dress she had justtaken off she threw it out of the window. After a while Mina returned,bringing back the dress. Cornelli was sitting on the window-sill crosslylooking down at the yard.

  "Look out that the wind doesn't blow you down, too, like your dress,"Miss Mina said unpleasantly.

  "I don't care," Cornelli replied obstinately. "It did not blow downat all, for I threw it down on purpose."

  "Oh, is this the way you behave? Next time you can get it yourself,"said Miss Mina, running away indignantly.

  Next morning Cornelli was walking across the courtyard, happily talkingto her teacher, whose hand she was holding. During her school hoursshe had forgotten all the troubles of the day before, for Mr. Malingerhad been as kind to her as ever. He at least had not changed.

  "Could you give me a little rose?" he asked smilingly, while they werepassing the blooming rose bushes. So Cornelli quickly ran from bushto bush till she had gathered a fine bunch of dark and light, whiteand red roses. These she offered to her teacher, warning him not toprick himself. Then the two parted most cordially.

  Cornelli, on coming back, ran swiftly toward the stable. Suddenly,however, she stood stock still, for she remembered that she was notallowed to go there any more. No longer could she see the darlinglittle kid and watch its growth. She would be unable to tell when themoment had come for it to be hitched to a carriage to be driven aboutby her. She might not be allowed even to do that! She hoped, however,that her father might be back by that time and that then everythingwould be different. Cornelli danced with joy at that thought, and herold gaiety seemed to return. She felt like going to Esther and talkingit all over with her good old friend. The moment the child went intothe house, Miss Dorner stepped out of the living room.

  "You have just come in time," she said, "for I have to show yousomething. Where are you going?"

  "To the kitchen," replied Cornelli.

  "You have nothing whatever to do in the kitchen and you shall not gothere. I thought you knew that you have to go upstairs before lunchto fix your hair. But before you go up come in here. I have to tellyou something very important."

  Cornelli followed her cousin into the room. Miss Grideelen was standingnear the window as if she had expected the return of her friend. LeadingCornelli to the sofa, Miss Dorner pointed to it, saying: "You are sureto know who has done this and you had better tell me right away."

  On the dark plush coverings were visible distinct marks of dusty shoesoles. There was no trace of a whole foot, but one could see thatsomebody had trampled on the sofa.

  "I did not do it," said Cornelli with sparkling eyes.

  "Who in all the house would have done it except you? Please ask yourselfthat, Cornelli! There is no question about it at all," said Miss Dorner."It is probably one of your little jokes similar to throwing yourdresses out of the window. I know all about it. Just let me tell youthis! It is the last time that you, a girl of ten years old, will showsuch a terrible lack of manners. As long as I am here, you shall notdo it any more. You really should spare your good, sensitive fathersuch behavior."

  "I have not done it. No, I did not do it, no, no!" Cornelli criedaloud.

  "But Cornelli, only reflect! You are blushing and your conscience isgiving you away," Miss Grideelen here remarked. "It would be so muchbetter for you to say humbly: 'I have done it and I am sorry; I shallnever do it again!'"

  "No, no! I have not done it. No, no!" Cornelli cried out louder still.Her cheeks were glowing red from anger and excitement.

  "Do not make such a noise," ordered the cousin. "One might think therewas an accident. It is not worth while to lose so many words. Youshould not have made things worse by denying it; if you had not,everything would be all settled. You have misbehaved and you shall notdo so any more. Remember!"

  "No, I did not misbehave. No, no! And I shall not say yes when it isnot true," Cornelli now cried, quite beside herself.

  "Go to your room, Cornelli, and smooth out your forehead before youcome to dinner. Your little horns are protruding quite plainly whenyou act that way. Just look at yourself in the mirror and see yourselfhow repulsive you look. If you think that there is anybody in the worldwho can still like you when you have black horns on your forehead, youare mistaken. Go, now, and return with another face."

  Cornelli went.

  Reaching her room, Cornelli put her hand up to her brow. Right on herforehead were two protruding points. Should horns be really growingthere? The child had a sudden horrible fright at this thought. She wassure that everybody could see them already, for she could feel themquite distinctly. She could not stand it any longer, so she ran awayto old Martha.

  "No, I did not do it, Martha. I never did it," she called out, runninginto the little room. "When I tell them no, no, they ought to believethat I did not do it. I never, never did it. They shall know it! Butthey won't believe me even if I say it a hundred times and--"

  "Stop a little, Cornelli!" said old Martha kindly. "You see, you areall out of breath. Sit down here on your stool and tell me quietlywhat has excited you so. You know that I believe your words. I haveknown you since you were small, and I know that what you say is true."

  It was impossible for Cornelli to speak calmly about what had happened,but it soothed her, nevertheless, to be able to pour out her heart andto know that Martha believed her. She told of the accusation which hadbeen brought against her, and how she had not been believed despiteall her assurances. She was certain that both ladies would alwaysbelieve for ever and ever that she had done it and had denied it. Atthis thought Cornelli again became quite red from excitement and wason the point of breaking out again. But Martha put her hand on thechild's shoulder, quietly restraining her.

  "No, no, Cornelli, that's enough," she said soothingly. "It is onlyto your advantage that it is so and not as they have said. You havebeen accused wrongly and cannot prove it, but God knows the truth. Hehas heard everything. You can be calm and happy and look up to Himwith a clear conscience. You can say to yourself: 'God knows it, andI do not need to be afraid or frightened.' If you had really done wrongand had denied it, you would have to be afraid that the truth wouldbe revealed. Then you could not look up calmly to the sky, for youwould be frightened at the thought that up there was One who kneweverything and from whom nothing could be hidden. A wrong accusationdoes not stay with us forever. Even if it takes ever so long, itgenerally is revealed in the end, and you certainly will not need tobear it in all eternity, because God already knows how it is."

  Cornelli had really grown calm at the thought that there was One whoknew how it all was. When her trouble began to weigh upon her, shecould always say: "You know it all, dear Father in Heaven, You haveseen and heard everything."

  "If He could only tell them! They would then know it, too. God couldeasily do that," Cornelli said.

  "Yes, but that is not the way things happen. We do not know betterthan He what is good for us," Martha said, shaking her head quiteseriously. "If we could rule, everything would come wrong. We nevercan see ahead of the hour and we never know what is good for us becausethe next moment always brings something we did not know about. Otherwisewe would always be trying to undo what we have strained to do the daybefore; we should only make ourselves miserable over and over again.But if God ordains anything that we do not understand, we must believefirmly that something good will come out of it. We must be patient,and if our troubles are too heavy, we must console ourselves and think:God knows what good will come from it. But we are forgetting the time,Cornelli. You must hurry home to your dinner, now. I am afraid it isalready late."

  Cornelli's black frown had disappeared during Martha's soothing speech,but now a deep shadow flew across her face.

  "Oh, Martha, if I only did
not need to go home any more! I hate to goback and sit at table. I would not mind dying of hunger, if I couldonly stay here with you."

  Cornelli, glancing at her home, drew together her brows as if she sawsomething frightful there.

  "But, child, you must not say such things about your lovely home; itis wrong to do that," said Martha, kindly admonishing her. "Just thinkhow many children have no home at all. How grateful they would be toGod for a home like yours. Go, now, Cornelli, be grateful for all Godhas given you and chase away the thoughts that make you sad. Come soonagain and we shall be glad together, for there is always something tobe glad about."

  Cornelli went. While she had been with Martha and had heard her words,it had really seemed to her that there was no cause for grief. As soon,however, as she entered the garden and saw the windows of the roomwhere they were surely already at table, everything that had pressedheavily on her heart rose again. After all, Martha did not knoweverything.

  Cornelli was sure that she could never be happy any more. She couldnot go in there and she could not eat. She felt as if she could notswallow anything, for big stones seemed to stick in her throat. If shewould only die from it all! Cornelli thought that that would be best,for then everything would be over. So she sat down on the lawn behindthe thick currant bushes, where she could not be seen from the house.Meanwhile, Miss Mina had carried away the sweets and was putting thefruit course on the table.

  "It seems to me that Cornelli does not care if she comes to table awhole hour late," said Miss Dorner. "Nothing is to be kept warm forher, for she does not seem to have learned yet how to respect time andorder. She had better learn it soon."

  Mina went out to sit down for her dinner. Esther had everything readyand was just putting the dessert in the cupboard.

  "That is for Cornelli as soon as she comes home," she said, sittingdown, too; "the poor child gets enough bitter things to swallownowadays."

  "But why shouldn't she come in time?" asked Mina crossly. "Besides,she couldn't possibly eat the whole dessert. We can take our share andthere will be enough left, surely as much as is good for her."

  "I won't let you have it," said Esther, firmly pressing her arm to thetable as a sign that she would stay there. "The child must havesomething that will help her to swallow all the cross words she hearsall day," she continued. "What was wrong again this morning, when therewas such a scene in the living room?"

  "It was nothing," replied Mina. "There were a few marks of dust on thesofa, and the ladies thought that Cornelli had been standing on it.The child would not admit it and so the ladies kept on accusing hertill Cornelli set up a senseless row."

  "I really think, Miss Mina, that you could have given an explanation,"said Esther with a sly smile. "If one has to wind up the clock, it isquicker to jump up on the sofa than to push the heavy thing away. Whenone wears tight lace boots in the early morning, one can't take themoff easily, eh, Miss Mina?" With these words Esther glanced at theneat little boots that Mina was stretching out comfortably under thetable.

  "Well, what was there so terrible about that?" retorted Mina pertly."The sofa won't be spoiled on account of that, and besides, I have toclean it myself."

  "I only think you could have said a word, before the ladies accusedthe child of having lied to them and before she nearly had a fit overthe injustice. She made such a noise that one could hear it all overthe house! It went right through me."

  "Oh, pooh! it was not as bad as that," asserted Mina; "the child haslong since forgotten the whole thing. That is the way with children.One moment they make a horrible noise and the next they go out of thedoor and forget about it. Why should one bother?"

  "It used to be different," said Esther smilingly, "Miss Mina could notbe obliging enough to the child then. Things are all done for otherpeople now and not for those of the house."

  "Those of the house!" repeated Mina mockingly. "It won't be long beforeyou, too, will be singing another tune. When the new lady of the housegives orders in the kitchen you will have to obey, too."

  Esther dropped her spoon. "For goodness sake, what are you saying?"she exclaimed. "Who should have thought of such a thing? Whom do youmean, the cousin or the other one?"

  "Well, I can't tell that exactly," replied the maid. "Our master hasnot discussed that with me, but one must be dumb not to see what isgoing on and why the ladies came here. After all, one wants to knowwhat one is going to do. That two have come, is the surest sign ofall, for we shall be supposed not to suspect."

  "For goodness sake," said Esther again, "what a discovery! I am sureit must be the relation, for she already rules the house. I tell youone thing, though, Miss Mina, that I shall keep on singing the sametune I have been singing for the last twelve years in this house, andI don't care who is going to rule. You can believe me."

  "Oh, we shall see about that, Esther," said Mina with a superior air.She got up, now, to see if the ladies needed anything.

  Waking up from a sound sleep, Cornelli did not remember where she was.She was lying on the lawn behind the currant bushes. She rememberedat last how she had come back at lunch time from Martha's cottage andhow she had suddenly felt weary and sleepy. She must have dropped downand gone to sleep.

  It was evening and there was no more sunshine on the grass, but thesky was still light, although it was beginning to grow dark. Cornellisuddenly had a longing she had never known before. She felt as if shehad to eat and taste everything about her, the bushes and the leaves,the flowers, and especially the unripe plums on the tree above her.Oh, if she only had a piece of bread! Cornelli got up quickly and rantowards the house.

  "Come quickly, Cornelli," Esther called to her through the open kitchenwindow; "they are just sitting down to supper; you have come just intime."

  Cornelli flew to her room and, pulling out a thick shawl from amongher things, tied it around her head. Then, running to the dining room,she sat down at her accustomed seat.

  "So you have come again," said Miss Dorner, who had just settled down,too. "A well brought up child should at least say good evening whenshe enters the room after a long absence."

  "Good evening," said Cornelli, after which she finished her soup withunusual haste.

  "Where do you come from after all this time?" asked the cousin.

  "From the garden," was the reply.

  "That is quite possible, but where were you before that?"

  "With Martha," Cornelli answered.

  "If you could only learn to answer more pleasantly!" remarked MissDorner, "it would be to your own advantage, for you do not have manypleasing things about you; it would only make you more attractive, andyou really should strive to become so.

  "Next time you want to stay so long at this woman's house you have toask my permission. I absolutely forbid you to stay away so long withoutasking me, do you hear? You deserve to be scolded for your long absenceto-day, but I shall not say anything further. But why do you look sopitiful! What is the matter? Have you a toothache?"

  "No," Cornelli quickly gave forth.

  "Have you a headache?"

  "No."

  "What is the matter with you?"

  "Nothing."

  "You shall never again set up such a masquerade when there is nothingthe matter with you, Cornelli," said the cousin scoldingly. "Why doyou put this shawl around your head? Are you trying to look like anuntidy gypsy? Don't ever come to table that way again! Betty, have youever seen the like? Can you understand this behavior from a sensiblechild?"

  The friend just shook her head.

  "Perhaps Cornelli does it because she does not know what else to do.She does not seem to desire a proper occupation," she replied.

  When Cornelli came down to breakfast next day, she had taken off theshawl, but she still looked very odd.

  "You look exactly like a savage from New Zealand," said the cousin."Do you think you are improving your appearance by plastering yourhair all over your face?"

  "No," said Cornelli fiercely.

  "Neither do I," sa
id the cousin. "I cannot make you out at all. Whatwill you put on next, I wonder, when your hair is brushed away?"

  "My fur cap," replied Cornell, according to the truth.

  "I never heard such nonsense," exclaimed Miss Dorner. "I really thinkthat the child is capable of doing that. She will probably pull itdown over her head to her nose when the temperature is eighty. I havenever seen such a child. What shall I do with her?"

  Cornelli really looked as if she did not know how well brought upEuropean girls usually wore their hair. From the middle of her headthick uneven strands of dark hair hung down over her forehead and deepinto her eyes. The hair was not hanging loose, but was firmly gluedto her skin. Her intention seemed to be to keep it there to preventit from being blown away.

  "You look positively repulsive and no person on earth will want tolook at you if you go around like that. This may teach you to give upyour terrible obstinacy! Nothing else can be done with you."

  With these words the cousin rose and left the room. Miss Grideelenpromptly followed.

  That evening a letter was sent to Cornelli's father:

  ILLER-STREAM,July 20th, 18--.

  MY DEAR COUSIN:

  Your affairs are going brilliantly, for your manager is splendid. Ican also inform you that perfect order reigns in your house, yourgarden and the stable. Your place is perfectly magnificent; it aboundsin fruit and vegetables and lovely flowers. I should never have imaginedthis possible years ago, when I wandered about here with my friendCornelia.

  I am coming now to the principal subject of this letter, which is lesspleasant. I do not understand how your daughter has gotten herdisposition. She does not either resemble you, with your fresh andopen manner, or Cornelia, with her merry, pliant disposition, whichwon every one's heart. The child has a dull and sullen nature, aroughness of manner and an unheard-of stubbornness. I can do nothingfor her, at least not by anything I say. But I have decided to leavephysical or other punishment to you. I shall do all I can by goodexample and admonishment as long as I am here. My friend is supportingme faithfully. I do not dare raise in you the hope that the child willever make you happy. A rebellious nature like hers is sure to get worsefrom year to year. I hope, however, that the success of all yourventures will give you the satisfaction that your home life cannotgive you.

  Your faithful cousin,

  KITTY DORNER.

  CHAPTER V

  A NEWCOMER IN ILLER-STREAM