It ain't too long after that, that I decide to grace Miss.Lizabeth with my presence. As a rag doll, I've got a duty to uphold. I stand, brushin' all the dirt and hay off my dress, so Miss. Lizabeth suspects nothin' and make my way into the manor. I take the back way 'round, so I don't bump into Miss. Lizabeth and have her suspect somethin'.
I wait another minute or so, then walk outside to join Miss. Lizabeth. I come from behind, so I give her a scare when I pop up. She squeals and almost falls over, which gives me some much needed comic relief. I don't laugh out loud, though I can almost feel it spillin' from my mouth. Sometimes, I feel like I'm more of a lady than Miss. Lizabeth will ever be. I find that I no longer feel guilty at that insult, knowin' the truth of how Miss. Lizabeth feels 'bout me.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you," I say, an actual smile on my lips, "I jus' heard you callin' for me. Is it time for lessons already?"
She nods, glarin' at me. If daddy would let her, I bet Miss. Lizabeth would lay a hand on me more than she already does. At least daddy's good for somethin'.
"And, where may I ask, have you been?"
"In the parlor," I lie, my fingers crossed tightly behind my back.
"I was in the parlor and you weren't there."
By the look on her face I can tell she thinks she got me. She loves doin' that, always layin' traps and expectin' us, 'specially me to fall for 'em. I almost do, I flush, but I stop myself from sayin' somethin' too stupid.
"Well I did spend some time in my bedroom, all that blood this mornin' made me feel queasy. I needed to lie down a little."
I can tell she ain't buyin' it, but she don't say nothin'. I find myself glad yet again, that on the social hierarchy I'm higher than her. She said I ain't gonna find a man to marry, but she forgot she ain't never found one neither.
"It's time for lessons you say, shall I go get Mary? I do wish my dear sister could learn how to read the Holy Book like myself."
Although it ain't a good trait to have, I'm rather good at lyin'. When I have a mind like I do, in a city that won't allow it, I need to lie. It's a sin, I know, I jus' hope that God is real forgivin'. I mean, after all, He is the one who put me here.
"Why don't you just go to the study, I'll get Mary myself."
Miss. Lizabeth is still all huffy, annoyed, I'm sure at how I can act. Although I know I could, I don't cause any more trouble as I head to the study.
I wait another minute or so, then walk outside to join Miss. Lizabeth. I come from behind, so I give her a scare when I pop up. She squeals and almost falls over, which gives me some much needed comic relief. I don't laugh out loud, though I can almost feel it spillin' from my mouth. Sometimes, I feel like I'm more of a lady than Miss. Lizabeth will ever be. I find that I no longer feel guilty at that insult, knowin' the truth of how Miss. Lizabeth feels 'bout me.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you," I say, an actual smile on my lips, "I jus' heard you callin' for me. Is it time for lessons already?"
She nods, glarin' at me. If daddy would let her, I bet Miss. Lizabeth would lay a hand on me more than she already does. At least daddy's good for somethin'.
"And, where may I ask, have you been?"
"In the parlor," I lie, my fingers crossed tightly behind my back.
"I was in the parlor and you weren't there."
By the look on her face I can tell she thinks she got me. She loves doin' that, always layin' traps and expectin' us, 'specially me to fall for 'em. I almost do, I flush, but I stop myself from sayin' somethin' too stupid.
"Well I did spend some time in my bedroom, all that blood this mornin' made me feel queasy. I needed to lie down a little."
I can tell she ain't buyin' it, but she don't say nothin'. I find myself glad yet again, that on the social hierarchy I'm higher than her. She said I ain't gonna find a man to marry, but she forgot she ain't never found one neither.
"It's time for lessons you say, shall I go get Mary? I do wish my dear sister could learn how to read the Holy Book like myself."
Although it ain't a good trait to have, I'm rather good at lyin'. When I have a mind like I do, in a city that won't allow it, I need to lie. It's a sin, I know, I jus' hope that God is real forgivin'. I mean, after all, He is the one who put me here.
"Why don't you just go to the study, I'll get Mary myself."
Miss. Lizabeth is still all huffy, annoyed, I'm sure at how I can act. Although I know I could, I don't cause any more trouble as I head to the study.
