HARRIET'S NEW PLAN—FEASIBLE?

"Mother, do you really think you won't be discovered?" Nellie was very skeptical as Harriet saw her off at the station. What a bright girl…

"Nellie, darling. No one at this absurd school has ever seen me, except Mary Ingalls, and of course she can't see me anymore anyway." Harriet paused. "As Miss Dalyrymple, I will speak in an English accent."

"Mother, you sound very nasal in your English accent. It's about as English as—"

"NELLIE! Get on the train. If you want me to find a way to bring Reckness back to you, you have to have faith in your Mother." Harriet felt exhausted. She'd gotten the position (as the blind school paid dismally) as domestic-science instructor, and this should give her close access to Reckness, as well as that little hoyden Mary Ingalls.

The next day, Mrs. Dalyrymple surveyed her 9 to twelve year old charges in the first class. How do I keep from being ill? Some of them have no eyes, just sightless sockets, others have milky orbs, and still others have one eye that focuses off in a distance.

Could I request that they wear blindfolds? It wouldn't make much difference, would it? They can't see, anyway, and look at them grope and fumble trying to sew a sock. Ugh.

"That's right Polly Anne. Tie a knot to the end of the thread, and put—how clumsy you are! No, Emily you'll ruin your running stitch—ghastly."

Was this Reckness worth it? Maybe Nellie could marry Jonathan Garvey's idiot boy. Look at that idiot in the corner seat. The headmaster says that she lost her vision through parental syphilis, probably because her mother was the town pump—like Mary Ingalls will be one day.

"Miz Dalyrymple, Mona's got mah sewing scissors an' she has them in her mouth!"

MARY AND ADAM MAKE AMENDS

Adam could be so nice when he wanted to, Mary considered.

"I was just so concerned about you when you were gone, Mary." Adam's voice softened, and his larger hand covered hers. Mary didn't take her hand away.

"Well, it was a very unusual experience, I'd never attended a debutante ball—or any ball for that matter." Mary said, thinking of the experiences she'd had with Reckness's extended family. "But they're very unusual people, Adam. I don't know if I would feel comfortable around folk like that all the time."

"Well, some wealthy are very nice, Mary. You know my father is a lawyer, and we were fairly well off." Adam paused. "But after I had the accident, my Pa sent me away, and I've not been in touch with many of my family, although he did cover my tuition through college, and still makes me a small allowance."

Mary was overcome. "Adam! You mean you don't have—aren't in touch with your family just because-because you lost your sight! That's not your fault!" Impulsively, she stood up and threw her arms around Adam, and they kissed.

"Well, thank you for that, Miss Ingalls, but really, it wasn't my Dad's fault. He…he just didn't understand blindness, it was too much for him."

"You're—you're just too good and kind, Adam. I think it's terrible that you have-have been shunned." They kissed again.

"But you have to understand, Mary—people are frightened of the blind" Adam said. "And my Dad had such hopes for me—he wanted me to be a lawyer like him, although I was only twelve when I had the accident, slipping in a creek during a fishing trip."

"He must've loved you very much—at least—I'm sure he still loves you!"

They kissed yet again. What about Reckness? Mary felt a real passion for Reckness, but Adam was so decent, and he was a little taller than Reckness…Reckness was a bit soft, too. Adam did as much physical labor around the school as his handicap would allow, and Mary was really enjoying being in his strong arms.

As if he could read her mind, Adam said "I know you like Reckness a great deal, Mary, and I feel badly confusing you like this. I also know it really threatens my position as a teacher, and yours as a student for us to be carrying on in such a way, but I can't help how I feel about you!"

Mary kissed him again. He was so serious, so cute!

PRUITT MAKES NEITHER HEAD NOR TAIL

Outside the door, Pruitt, still months shy of his fifth birthday agreed with Mary Ingalls, but only to a point. Bad enough that poor Mr. Kendall not see his Pa no more, but to also have to be kissed by a girl? TWICE!

It seemed like life was awful hard for Mr. Kendall. Maybe if he slugged Mary Ingalls and ran away, he could be safe. Pruitt could hold the door and everything. Girls. Ick.

Suddenly, Pruitt felt someone standing over him. He smelled White Shoulders. That was the nasty perfume that Miss Dalyrymple, the teacher who was also housemother for his dormitory used…she'd hit Frankie Girard with a ruler because he'd not folded his shirt right.

But as Pruitt began edging off, he felt Miss Dalyrymple's fingers grab his hair—hard!

"Stay still, my little eavesdropper, if you move off you'll distract the nasty young lovers."

Oooh what a scratchy voice. But Miss Dalyrymple had Pruitt's scalp, and she wasn't letting go.

"That's right" came the throaty whisper. "Kiss the teacher, you nasty little tramp. Right where Harriet can see you. My, I wish I had a camera. Get you expelled, Kendall fired. What's happened to this country?"

As Miss Dalyrymple said "country" she inadvertently let go of Pruitt's hair and he ran pell-mell down the hall. Poor Mister Kendall! But in a way, wasn't he kinda askin' for it?