Chapter 3 Rebecca's Family Aunt Miranda held her sister's letter up to the light.
In it, she thanked Miranda and Jane for their offer to take in one of her girls.
In fact, she said that going to church and school in town would doubtlessly be the making of Rebecca.
I don't know if I thought I'd be the making of any child at my age, Miranda said.
She refolded the letter and placed it on the kitchen table.
I thought our sister would send Hannah, but it's just like her to send that wild Rebecca instead.
We talked about how someone else might be sent if Hannah couldn't be spared at the farm, Jane said.
I know we did, Miranda grumbled, but I honestly hoped it wouldn't be Rebecca.
Jane said, Rebecca was a mite of a thing when we saw her three years ago.
That's a long time for change.
She's had plenty of time to grow up.
And to grow worse, Miranda insisted.
Rebecca's aunts continued to talk about the ups and downs of having her come to live with them.
Miranda worried every day about how hard it would be to keep the feisty girl in check.
The aunts spent the day before the coach arrived cleaning the house until it shone.
Just as Miranda hung the last dish towel out to dry, she said 'Rebecca makes us work this hard while she's here?
We might as well give up on ever having a rest.'
"'But we had to clean the house anyway, Miranda,' Jane said to her from the porch.
"'Rebecca or no Rebecca.'
Her sister came up the steps and sat down on a wooden rocking chair.
'And I can't see why you've scrubbed and washed and baked so much for one little girl'.
Jane continued, or why you've bought Watson's store out of their dry goods.
As long as she's under our roof, she'll be clean, well-fed, and properly behaved.
That's my promise.
Miranda huffed and puffed for a minute.
She'll also learn to sew, to cook, and to do her chores.
Well, Jane said, she might turn out to be a good girl after all, Miranda.
We just don't know.
The two women went inside to wait for the stagecoach and have some lunch.
It was well past the time the coach was due to arrive.
The coach should be here by now.
Miranda complained as she looked up at the tall grandfather clock in the hallway.
I wonder what's keeping them.
Not that it matters, anyway.
I've done all I can.
The girl has two towels on the back of her washstand, which is all she needs.
I'm just worried because children can be awfully hard on the furniture.
We might not even know this house a year from now.
Miranda stood up, walked to the front window, and looked down the dusty street.
She paced back and forth and kept checking the clock.
Jane watched her sister and thought about how Rebecca must feel.
We're not the easiest people to live with now, are we?
She must be nervous about coming to live here.
With that thought in mind, Jane went outside to cut some fresh flowers from the garden for Rebecca's room.
She also left a red tomato pincushion as a little present.
By the time she got back to the parlor, the coach had rumbled up to the side door of the house.
Mr. Cobb helped Rebecca climb out just like a real lady.
Rebecca handed her aunt Miranda a bunch of faded flowers and smiled politely.
Giving her niece an awkward peck on the cheek.
The elderly woman took the flowers and said Thank you, but you didn't have to bring flowers.
The garden's full of them.
Jane interrupted to give Rebecca a hug and a real kiss on the cheek.
Then she said, Jeremiah, you can put the trunk in the entryway.
Thank you.
I'll take it right up if you want, Mr. Cobb said.
No, no, Jane replied.
There's no need to leave the horses.
Someone will be along this afternoon.
We'll just call them in.
Mr. Cobb nodded and gave Rebecca a big smile.
Well, goodbye then, young miss.
He turned to her aunts and said, Good day, Miranda and Jane.
You got a lively little girl there.
I think you'll enjoy her company quite a bit.
Miranda shuddered at the thought of Rebecca being lively.
She believed that children should be seen and not heard.
We're not used to much noise, she said coldly.
Good day, Mr. Cobb.
Thank you for delivering her safely.
Mr. Cobb nodded politely and climbed back onto the stagecoach.
Let's get you inside, Miranda said.
I'll show you to your room.
Shut the mosquito door tight behind you to keep the flies out.
It's not the time for them, but you should get in the habit anyway.
Shutting the door was the first of many rules.
Miranda told Rebecca to wipe her feet on the braided rug and to leave her hat and parasol downstairs.
But it's my best hat, she said.
Well, then.
Take it upstairs and put it away in the cupboard.
I can't imagine what you were thinking wearing your best hat on the stagecoach, Miranda said.
It's my only hat, Rebecca replied.
My everyday hat wasn't good enough to bring.
My sister Fanny's going to wear it now.
Fine, take it upstairs.
Goodness me, but leave that parasol down here.
Would you mind if I took it upstairs too?
It would be much safer there.
Miranda frowned.
There aren't any thieves around here.
And if there were, I doubt they'd want that parasol, but suit yourself.
The instructions continued all the way up to Rebecca's room.
She was told to always wipe her feet when she came into the house and to always use the back stairs.
That way the carpet on the front ones would stay new for longer.
As she walked up to her room, she should be careful not to trip on the corner of the stairs.
There was a rug in the hallway she needed to watch out for as well.
Now, wash your face and brush out your hair before you come back downstairs.
Then we'll get your trunk sorted out and unpacked.
Miranda stopped and looked closely at Rebecca.
Why, her dress had buttons down the front.
Isn't your frock on backward? she asked.
"'Goodness me, child, why are you wearing your clothes the wrong way?'
Rebecca smiled.
"'Oh no, Aunt Miranda.
With seven children at home, that's a lot of buttons.
We'd spend all day doing each other up.
This way we can dress ourselves.
You know, Mira, she's only three, but she can already do up her own buttons.'
Miranda said nothing as she closed Rebecca's door.
She shook her head and went back downstairs, leaving the girl standing in the middle of her room to look around.
The room was neat and tidy with high walls.
It faced north and the window looked out onto the barn.
Perhaps it was being in a strange place that made Rebecca tear off her hat and throw it on her dresser.
She was so overcome with emotion that she pulled back the covers and flopped down on her new bed, shoes and all.
Then Rebecca pulled the covers up and over her.
She was hidden from head to toe under a blanket of white sheets and frilly bedspreads.
Miranda came back and looked around at the empty room.
She noticed the large lump under the covers at once.
"'Rebecca!' she screamed.
A dark, ruffled head and two frightened eyes appeared.
What are you doing lying in bed with your shoes on in the middle of the day?
Messing up your clean sheets.
You're going to ruin that bedspread with your dirty feet.
Get up this instant.
I'm sorry, Aunt Miranda.
Something just came over me.
I don't know what it was.
Well, Miranda huffed, if it ever comes over you again, we'll have to figure out exactly what it is.
Put your bed back in order now.
Our neighbor is bringing up your trunk, and I don't want him seeing your room in the state.
The whole town would hear of it.
