RECKNESS CARDEW

Stupid cow. But a cunning cow, too. "So are you kind of looking off into space, Nellie?"

"Yes. You're right, I've seen Mary do that, and…it's amazing though, Reckness. You're giving me such good lessons, and you have no idea what I, or my eyes look like."

Sigh. Seeing people are IDIOTS. "I have a good memory, and one thing my mother and my governess were always telling me was, point my face towards someone who was talking—towards the sound of their voice, and it would make me seem less blind. And it's true, Nellie, it worked well. There's people I've met in New York, and I convinced them I wasn't blind at all, just very short-sighted. But you have to do the reverse now, if we're going to fool people—if this is what you really want."

There was a sigh. "Yes, Reckness darling. But a few years ago, when I got into a horse riding accident, I faked being paralyzed…actually because I was having a row with Mary Ingalls's younger sister, a buck toothed little pig called Laura. And then of course everyone found out that I was faking. So people might be suspicious."

"Well the one thing you've got going for you is, no one could possibly believe that you would want to be sightless, and that you'd want to stay on at a blind school. No one knows we've been, er…keeping company, do they?"

"N-no, and I actually shared some kisses with another boy, Simon, and Mr. Kendall caught us. It wasn't anything, really it wasn't, Reckness, I just found him appealing and—

What a TROLLOP the Nellie-cow was. But on the other hand, it means I can guilt her, and if she is distracted by that simian farmer—no accounting for taste—I can continue my campaign with Mary Ingalls, to say nothing of Lila, the parlor maid…

"I'm-I'm so hurt, Nellie, that you find Simon—never mind. I understand."

Reckness chortled silently as he felt Nellie's long, smooth arms grab him in a grotesque bear hug…there are the thin lips. He would get her to French him below for this. What a stupid, stupid cow.

"I am so sorry, Reckness, darling. I'll never go near Simon again…please, can I please you now?"

"We have to work on your blindness, Nellie…I forgive you, I suppose." If she stays here she can run so many errands for me. Nellie is much brighter—sly, really, than the idiot maids that go out and purchase my tobacco and laudanum.

And Reckness knew a doctor who would see Nellie. Morphine Mordecai. It was amazing how easy it was to meet like minded souls in any town Reckness went to. The other night, puffing on the hookah at the Chinaman's, Mordecai had agreed to the plan…holding one of Recki's sovereigns in his shaking, opium addled hand.

"All right, are you staring into space? Here are the symptoms for glaucoma as I've heard them…"

ADAM KENDALL

Mary's lips…Adam still couldn't believe it.

"How did it happen again?" Fitzie's voice had a laugh in it, but it was a kind laugh.

"I was, I don't know…" Adam shook his head. He hadn't much experience with girls. "I told Mary, I was warning her, about Reckness. And then I burst out and said something like, something stupid like 'I care about you very much, perhaps in the wrong way' and she said something in that melodic voice of hers 'What kind of wrong way, Adam?' And then it got rather…fuzzy, and we were kissing, and it was terribly wrong but…"

Adam felt Fitzie punch his arm. "Terribly, terribly wrong, for the strict young Adam Kendall. What an ass you are, Adam. And I'll wager you are blushing now. If I touched your chin, it would be hot."

Adam smiled. "Y-yes, I guess so. I like her tremendously, Fitz. And it felt good—wonderful when Mary told me she liked me back. And-and of course there was the kissing."

Fitzie snickered. "Yes, I thought you might remember that part, old bean."

"But Fitzie, she says she has feelings for Reckness…confused feelings. How could she have feelings for a cad like that?" Adam's voice was strangled. Damn it! He was supposed to be the most responsible young teacher, he had charges to keep, but this love nonsense was…confusing and befuddling.

And Fitzie was laughing at him!

MARJORIE BLUNDELL

Marjorie felt the tip of the razor, so sharp. But there was a bit of liquid on her thumb now. She tasted it. Blood. Marjorie knew what blood felt like—Father had smacked her in the mouth more than once…because Marjorie couldn't hear all that well, mistakes and such.

Marjorie closed the razor, and put it in her pinafore pocket. Recki—he wouldn't see Marjorie at all anymore. Why? Obviously, Mary Ingalls. Marjorie knew she was dumb, knew she was homely. But Mary Ingalls—had too much! Mary had been promoted to teacher. Marjorie had been informed earlier that day that she would be repeating sixth grade, yet AGAIN.

And Mary was always kind to Marjorie…in that way. When the other girls laughed at Marjorie's reading mistakes, and called her the Blind Barnacle, Mary was always trying to help, to assist Marjorie. Marjorie HATED Mary Ingalls.

Adam Kendall, Marjorie's first crush, obviously preferred Mary. Simon, the nice farmer's boy, liked Marjorie. Orem Childs, the nice boy with partial nystagmus had been talking to Marjorie in the hallway and then when Mary Ingalls sashayed down the hall, he pushed Marjorie away…because he could see Mary a little bit and she was PRETTY.

Marjorie abstractedly felt the stolen straight razor that the Headmaster was probably looking for. Mary Ingalls's room was just above the dormitory where Marjorie slept—because of course no one would make Mary sleep in a dormitory.

Marjorie would visit Mary Ingalls, maybe tonight, maybe tomorrow night. Marjorie smiled…

NELS OLLSON

Anguish. What would Harriet think? How could this happen? And how morbid, right at the blind school. Poor Nellie.

"Doctor Fenstrom, are you sure?" Odd looking chap, this Mordecai Fenstrom.

"Well, Mr. Ollson, as I told the Headmaster, if you let Nellie stay here at the school for a bit, go back home, perhaps we can see if there's any improvement. She's gotten her bearings here, made a few chums. Perhaps her sight can be saved."

What was amazing was Nellie's serenity about all this. What courage!

"Don't worry, Daddy…I can still see you a little bit…a bit of a shape. You were always a handsome man. I will bear up under this…Mother and Willie need you at home."

Willie was maturing so well at home, and now his golden haired princess was becoming so unselfish. But at what a price!