Beyond All Measure by Dorothy Love

Author:Dorothy Love [Love, Dorothy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: ebook, book
Publisher: Thomas Nelson Inc.
Published: 2011-04-08T21:00:00+00:00

EIGHTEEN

“Ada, come sit by me.” Carrie patted the empty chair next to her.

Ada took her place across from Lillian, Bea, and Mariah and dug her thimble and needles from her bag. Lillian was already busy, sorting through squares of calico and denim. The ladies were making quilts for a boy and his sister who had been orphaned when their parents’ mule team spooked, sending their buckboard into the river. Outside the open window, a couple of noisy jays flitted among leaves just beginning to color. A bushy-tailed squirrel danced along the high branches, scolding the jays.

Ada smiled at his antics. Today, despite her constant worries about money, she was suffused with a rare sense of well-being. She had hats to make. And working on the quilts, making something beautiful and useful out of what had been worn out and discarded, gave her a feeling of accomplishment.

The women quickly finished piecing the quilt top. They attached it to the quilting frame and then began sewing it to the backing, their needles moving rhythmically through the colorful cloth. “Bea,” Carrie began, “do tell! What is the new headmaster like? Do the children like him?”

“He’s all right. He wants to impress the children, the older boys especially, with his authority. But his credentials are first-rate.” Bea reached into her basket for another spool of thread. “We’re offering Latin this term, and we’re planning a course in higher mathematics next year.”

“And our church Christmas pageant?” Mariah drew her needle through the fabric. “Will he help with that?”

Bea laughed. “Hardly! He thinks pageants are a woman’s domain—beneath the attention of a distinguished Virginia scholar such as himself.”

“At least he agreed to teach all the children today, so you could come here,” Lillian said. “That says something for his character.”

“I suppose.” Bea huffed. “But I must say, Ethan Webster has quite a high opinion of himself.”

Mariah rolled her eyes. Ada smiled at her across the quilt frame.

“I suppose Mr. Webster must attend the church in town,” Carrie said. “I haven’t seen him here.”

“I wouldn’t know.” Bea threaded her needle. “I’m tired of talking about him.” She glanced at Ada. “I’d much rather talk about our hats.”

“Me too,” Mariah said. “What about it, Ada?”

“Yours is almost finished, Mariah. I can bring it next week if you like.”

“I can’t wait!” Mariah stood and went to the cupboard, where she pulled out glasses and filled them with apple cider.

“What about my hat?” Bea’s expression clearly indicated she thought hers was more important. “You haven’t even taken my measurements yet.”

Ada suppressed a sigh. She set down her glass, pulled out her tape measure, and jotted down Bea’s measurement in her sketchbook. They were discussing Bea’s preferences when Lillian plopped her empty glass onto the table. “Some people in this room have forgotten why we’re here. There are two little children whose feet are going to freeze if we don’t get these quilts done. I, for one, do not want that on my conscience.”

“Coming, Lillian.” Bea murmured to Ada, “We can talk about my hat later, but I want it as soon as possible.

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