A sensation of relief came over her. Her
blood seemed to flow back into its usual channels; the tension of
her nerves relaxed.
"How silly I am," she said aloud.
She hurried out and downstairs into the kitchen where Sophia was
making cake, stirring with splendid circular sweeps of a wooden
spoon a creamy yellow mass. She looked up as her sister entered.
"Have you got it done?" said she.
"Yes," replied Amanda. Then she hesitated. A sudden terror
overcame her. It did not seem as if it were at all probable that
Sophia had left that foamy cake mixture a second to go to Aunt
Harriet's chamber and remove that purple gown.
"Well," said Sophia, "if you have got that done I wish you would
take hold and string those beans. The first thing we know there
won't be time to boil them for dinner."
Amanda moved toward the pan of beans on the table, then she looked
at her sister.
"Did you come up in Aunt Harriet's room while I was there?" she
asked weakly.
She knew while she asked what the answer would be.
"Up in Aunt Harriet's room? Of course I didn't. I couldn't leave
this cake without having it fall. You know that well enough.
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