Jane of Lantern Hill by L. M. Montgomery Read Free Book Online

was eating her blueberry pie she dropped a forkful of it on the table.
    â€œThis,” said grandmother “might have been excused in a child of five. It is absolutely inexcusable in a girl of your age. Blueberry stain is almost impossible to get out, and this is one of my best tablecloths. But of course that is a matter of small importance.”
    Jane gazed at the table in dismay. How such a little bit of pie could have spread itself over so much territory she could not understand. And of course it had to be at this inauspicious moment that a little purry, furry creature escaped the pursuing Mary, skittered across the dining room and bounded into Jane’s lap. Jane’s heart descended to her boots.
    â€œWhere did that cat come from?” demanded grandmother.
    â€œI mustn’t be a coward,” thought Jane desperately.
    â€œI found it on the street and brought it in,” she said bravely…defiantly, grandmother thought. “It was so cold and hungry…look how thin it is, grandmother. Please may I keep it? It’s such a darling. I won’t let it trouble you…I’ll…”
    â€œMy dear Victoria, don’t be ridiculous. I really supposed you knew we do not keep cats here. Be good enough to put that creature out at once.”
    â€œOh, not out on the street, grandmother, please . Listen to the sleet…it would die.”
    â€œI expect you to obey me without argument, Victoria. You cannot have your own way all the time. Other people’s wishes must be considered occasionally. Please oblige me by making no further fuss over a trifle.”
    â€œGrandmother,” began Jane passionately. But grandmother lifted a little, wrinkled, sparkling hand.
    â€œNow, now, don’t work yourself into a state, Victoria. Take that thing out at once.”
    Jane took the kitten to the kitchen.
    â€œDon’t worry, Miss Victoria. I’ll get Frank to put it in the garage with a rug to lie on. It will be quite comfy. And tomorrow I’ll find a good home for it at my sister’s. She’s fond of cats.”
    Jane never cried, so she was not crying when mother slipped rather stealthily into her room for a good-night kiss. She was only tense with rebellion.
    â€œMummy, I wish we could get away…just you and I. I hate this place, mummy, I hate it.”
    Mother said a strange thing and said it bitterly. “There is no escape for either of us now.”

CHAPTER 7
    Jane could never understand the affair of the picture. After her hurt and anger passed away she was just hopelessly puzzled. Why… why… should the picture of a perfect stranger matter to anybody at 60 Gay…and to mother, least of all?
    She had come across it one day when she was visiting Phyllis. Every once in so long Jane had to spend an afternoon with Phyllis. This one was no more of a success than the former ones had been. Phyllis was a conscientious hostess. She had shown Jane all her new dolls, her new dresses, her new slippers, her new pearl necklace, her new china pig. Phyllis was collecting china pigs and apparently thought anyone “dumb” who was not interested in china pigs. She had patronized and condescended even more than usual. Consequently, Jane was stiffer than usual and both of them were in agonies of boredom. It was a relief to all concerned when Jane picked up a Saturday Evening and buried herself in it, though she was not in the least interested in the society pages, the photographs of brides and debutantes, the stock market, or even in the article, Peaceful Readjustment of International Difficulties, by Kenneth Howard, which was given the place of honor on the front page. Jane had a vague idea that she ought not to be reading Saturday Evening. For some unknown reason grandmother did not approve of it. She would not have a copy of it in her house.
    But what Jane did like was the picture of Kenneth Howard on the front page. The moment she looked at it she was