"
"Don't leave us to her care; do find some one kind--some one as 'ull
be kind to me, and Maurice, and Toby--do help it, stepmother," said
Cecile.
"I _can't_ help it, child; and there's no use bothering a dying
woman who's short of breath. You and Maurice have got to go to my
sister, your Aunt Lydia, and ef you'll take a word of advice by and
by, Cecile, from one as 'ull be in her grave, you'll not step-aunt
her--she's short of temper, Aunt Lydia is. Yes," continued the sick
woman, speaking fast, and gasping for breath a little, "you have
got to go to my sister Lydia. I have sent her word, and she'll come
to-morrow--but--never mind that now. I ha' something else I must say
to you, Cecile."
"Yes, stepmother."
"I ha' no one else to say it to, so you listen werry hard. I'm going
to put a great trust on you, little mite as you are--a great, great
trust; you has got to do something solemn, and to promise something
solemn too, Cecile."
"Yes," said Cecile, opening her blue eyes wide.
"Aye, you may well say yes, and open yer eyes big; you're going to
get some'ut on yer shoulders as 'ull make a woman of yer. You mayn't
like it, I don't suppose as you will; but for all that you ha' got to
promise, because I won't die easy, else. Cecile," suddenly bending
forward, and grasping the child's arm almost cruelly, "I can't die at
_all_ till you promise me this solemn and grave, as though it
were yer very last breath."
"I will promise, stepmother," said Cecile.
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