Candy was standing in front of the Andrew mansion. The girl looked quite seemly – her humble yellow dress was ironed, her hair combed back and clasped. She had to look like a model lady, for she was going to meet Madam Elroy!
"God help me," Miss White went upstairs and addressed the servants standing at the door.
"Could you please see me to Madam Elroy?"
"Do you have an appointment?"
"Yes. I mean, no. Tell her Candy has come. Candice White… Andrew."
Having heard the last word, the servant motioned her to come in, and Candy followed him.
She felt very tiny among those portraits, libraries, rooms and halls…
But she had to speak to Madam Elroy! She was doing the right thing, she could feel it in her heart.
The girl sat in the armchair, waiting to be invited. She didn't have to wait long – as soon as the servant said Candy had come, Aunt Elroy instantly invited her in.
The old woman was sitting in a huge armchair, like a throne, her eyes slightly closed, as though she hadn't noticed the girl. But Candy knew that the old lady saw and heard everything.
"Hello, Madam Elroy," uttered Candy.
"Hello," the old woman nodded.
The girl had expected that the right words would come to her mind when she saw Aunt Elroy, but now she had nothing to tell her. Candy was taking deep breaths, but everything that occurred to her mind was wrong and stupid.
Emilia Elroy, in turn, couldn't find proper words or sounds; she thought her strength was failing her. But finally, she found the way out.
"Sit down, Candice," the old woman said. "Let's drink some tea."
Her wrinkled hand pulled the bell string, and a servant entered the room.
"Bring us some tea, Rosa. Come on, take a seat," Madam Elroy repeated.
Candy obediently sat into the armchair and instantly felt more comfortable.
"What a strange fantasy it is – to live in the middle of nowhere," Emilia began talking. "Yes, I understand, you do have reason to move away from me. But, as custom has it, Andrew and Legan families have always lived close to each other, and such custom is not to be broken. What will people say? Do I look like a monster, if you run away from me to another state?"
As the old lady spoke, she became more and more worried, until she finally stopped short and put a scarf to her lips, her hands trembling. It was not the way she had wanted to say it! She seemed to be accusing this Candy, the girl would just get angry and–
Candy impulsively leant forward and touched the old woman's hand.
"Don't say that, Madam Elroy! We must have been too hasty. If you don't mind it, we will sure be living all together. As one big family."
Emilia looked up incredulously at the smiling freckled face. So simple?
"Besides, someone has to raise your children. I highly doubt that you will be able to cultivate even the most basic proprieties in them," murmured Madam Elroy, trying to speak dryly and peevishly.
Miss White laughed.
"Our kids will be in safe hands!"
Then they kept silent for a while.
Aunt Elroy took Candy's hand and spoke, looking somewhere in the distance.
"You know, I miss children's laughter and children's mischief… I miss them so much. This house looks like a crypt without children. Oh, how these little brats loved me – Antony, Stear and Archie! What a marvelous time it was! Eliza and Neil would often come, too. And now…" The old lady's eyes glistened treacherously, but she quickly pulled herself together and cleared her throat.
"Now go. My head is starting to ache because of you."
"Goodbye, Aunt Elroy."
"Go, go."
The girl went out, and Emilia Elroy hid her face in her hands. But her heart was light. Her grandchildren and great-grandchildren would live with her now, and soon she would take a warm squirming body in her arms and hear a happy laughter.