Browning chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1941-1953, 1946-06-28

and asked permission to do what
she wanted-she was a good little
girl, but she had not lived with them
two weeks before Spratt and Eliza
beth were saying to each other that
her goodness, rather than any lack
of it, gave them concern. A child
who tried so hard to please every
body was not natural But Mar
garet had spoken a simple truth
when she said to Elizabeth that ev-
erybody who had belonged to her
had died. In spite of all the reassur-
ance Elizabeth was trying to give
her, both in words and in a general
attitude of affection, Margaret was
still not at ease. She was happy
with them, but happiness threatened
her with its own loss. 1t was as
though she felt herself in paradise
on probation, and thought that by be-
ing very good she could make pact
with destiny.
Before long such excellence of be-
havlor had won unqualified ap-
proval from Brian and Cherry. She
was much easier to have around
than they had expected, they said.
Brian showed her his collections and
Cherry let Margaret come in and
look at all her clothes, for it was fun
to display their treasures for a spec
tator who was so delighted at re-
ceiving attention and who never
touched anything out of turn. But
their parents found Margaret's at
titude ominous.
II don't know how to deal with
It'll" Elizabeth said to Spratt. Elm
pertinence or bad manners I could
handle. But this is new to me. Our
children were perfectly unacquaint-
ed with fear"
Spratt spoke through his teeth in
a low angry voice. "This is what
mental cruelty means, not a con-
venient phrase to get divorced with.
Margaret got out of there with
whole body, but what they did to her
mind!"
"And there are millions like her."
Elizabeth said savagely. II 60 cold
and sick thinking of them"
Thinking Of millions won't help
Margaret" said Spratt, who Gus
tomarily moved from the general to
the particular with all possible
speed. "Let her see you love her
and like having her around. Don't
pet her, just make her feel wanted.
Don't ask her about Germany, or
keSSler either. If she ever talks
just let her do it, as you said Kess-
Ter did when you were prettying up
her Christmas tree. She'll get it
out of her eventually-it may take
years, but she'll talk if she knows
you want to listen"
make her feel wanted" Eliza
beth repeated. eyes, I believe I
can do that"
The next day she said, II have a
problem, Margaret, and I need you
to help me-"
"Me? Help your" Margaret
came and sat down by her. "Have
you got some trouble, Elizabeth"
She was still afraid to use a title
that would have suggested to fate
that Elizabeth was her mother. BY
this time she called Spratt "boss" as
the other children did, for that title
had no threatening connotation for
her, as "father" had, but she con-
tinued to address Elizabeth by her
first name. Knowing how Margaret
felt about it, Elizabeth did not sug-
gest a change.
ooh no, not trouble" she an
swered, cts just this. I knitted
Dick pair of socks and he's crazy
about them, he says they are ten
times as comfortable as the ready
made socks they get in the Marines
and he wants lot more. But with
taking care of the house and watch
ing for planes at the observation
post, I really haven't time to make
so many. Would you make some
socks for Dick if taught you how?"