The Family Greene by Ann Rinaldi

Author:Ann Rinaldi [Rinaldi, Ann]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

FOR DAYS I stayed to myself. I pleaded feeling wretched. But I found that staying in the house, as Pa had ordered, gave me an excuse to keep away from others. I did not want to associate with anyone.

Mama pronounced that I had nothing serious and allowed me to occupy the window seat where she usually sat and rested. It was the one that overlooked the Savannah River. She liked to sit there and watch my brother George swim. Sometimes, with the help of several Negro boys his own age, he launched rafts and poled them at the river's edge.

Mama would watch nervously. She had a horrible fear of water. She was afraid of drowning, she told me. And I had to admire the way she never imparted that fear to George.

On the eleventh of June, Pa and Mama took a trip to Savannah to see the Pendletons. He had been an aide of Pa's since the siege of Boston in the war. He had spent four years as a prisoner of the British, and then been on Pa's staff in South Carolina. They planned on staying with the Pendletons a day or so, then going on to visit the plantation of Mr. William Gibbons, another friend of Pa's.

Before they left, Martha went on a morning horseback ride with Pa.

It was always a special privilege when one of us was invited on a horseback ride alone with Pa. If we'd been naughty, it meant we were forgiven. If he wanted to "hold forth" on a subject that pertained to one of us specifically, he would use this time to do it. And if he felt he'd been neglecting one of us, this could be a reason for it, too.

I was wild with trying to ponder the reason, and when she came back, Martha's nose was so far in the air that sparrows could make a nest in it.

***

AROUND THE FIFTEENTH of June, I was sitting at the window seat, where I'd been languishing since Mama and Pa had left, watching my brother George and the Negro boys, who seemed to be having so much sport. I promised Mama I would watch George while she was gone and fetch someone if he got into trouble on the river.

General Anthony Wayne was staying with us, left in charge by Pa.

George was nearing twelve now, his shoulders broadening, growing already into a young man, well able to take care of himself.

I sipped tea, I read. I enjoyed my solitude. And my spirit was still low.

I had not seen Martha for four days now, except at table, for General Wayne insisted we keep the routine of the household going and take meals together, even with little Louisa. She pleasured him, Louisa did. He had great patience with her toddler ways.

Of course, we must have conversation when we dined.

Martha and I made a good attempt at it, although I think General Wayne saw through our falseness.

Otherwise I stayed away from him. Oh, I was polite.

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