Little Vampire Women by Lynn Messina Page A

downcast face brightened as she spoke.
    “Don’t you read German?” asked Miss Kate with a look of surprise.
    “Not very well. My father, who taught me, is away, and I don’t get on very fast alone, for I’ve no one to correct my pronunciation.”
    “Try a little now. Here is Schiller’s Mary Stuart and a tutor who loves to teach.” And Mr. Brooke retrieved his book from the blanket and handed it to her with an inviting smile.
    “It’s so hard I’m afraid to try,” said Meg, grateful, but so bashful in the presence of the accomplished young lady beside her that she had completely forgotten Fred’s attempted murder of Jo.
    Kate volunteered to read a bit to encourage Meg, and, hoping to provide a distraction so her unfortunate brother could make his escape, she read one of the most beautiful passages in a perfectly correct but perfectly expressionless manner.
    Mr. Brooke made no comment as she returned the book to Meg, who said innocently, “I thought it was poetry.”
    “Some of it is. Try this passage.”
    “Enough,” cried Frank, who couldn’t bear the tension any longer. “Either kill him or let him go, but let’s not have any more of this polite, vacuous chatter.”
    “Amen,” said Laurie, who knew which of the two he’d rather do.
    “Please,” Kate said, her manner full of expression now. “Please. He’s just a boy and he doesn’t always think before he acts. Forgive him. His dislike of vampires runs deep and strong, for his twin was made lame by one, you see, and even though the assailant was apprehended and punished for acts unbecoming an Englishman, the damage was done. My brother will never walk without the crutch. Fred only acted overzealously in his love for his brother. Must you punish him for that?”
    Jo, who was by far the most abused, thought it only fair and square to let Fred off the hook. He was a scoundrel and a cheat, which were terrible things to be, but she was a coward, which was a dozen times worse. “Let him go, Laurie. It’s all right with me. I don’t want to playcroquet with him or Truth but I don’t think he needs to be run into town or strung up on a gibbet. The gentlemanly thing to do is to shake on it and think about it no more.” So saying, she held out her milky white hand.
    It was galling for Fred to accept the offer, for in proposing they let bygones be bygones, the vampire had once again shown him up as an Englishman. But a look at Grace’s scared face had him acquiescing immediately.
    Brooke suggested another game of croquet, which everyone save Jo complied with after the stake was reinserted into the ground, but the joy had gone out of the night. Fred sulked something awful and Kate brooded over the fact that she was playing croquet with a governess. The game ended with a listless victory for Laurie’s team, and everyone agreed it was time to go.
    On the lawn where it had gathered, the little party separated with cordial good nights and good-byes, for the Vaughns were going to Canada. As the four sisters went home through the garden, they marveled again at Beth’s remarkable midair catch. Amy couldn’t wait to relay the events to Marmee and ran ahead. Beth trailed after her, anxious to downplay her part in the affair, lest she receive credit of which she wasn’t worthy.
    Meg linked her arm through Jo’s and shook her head. “I always said she was a little saint,” claimed Meg, as if there could be no further doubt of it.

Chapter Ten
SECRETS
    J o was very busy in the garret, for the October evenings were long and comfortable. For two or three hours the moon shone brightly through the high window, showing Jo seated on the old sofa, writing busily, with her papers spread out upon a trunk before her, while Scrabble XXI, the latest pet rat in a long succession, promenaded the beams overhead, accompanied by his oldest son, a fine young fellow, who was evidently very proud of his whiskers. Quite absorbed in her work, Jo scribbled away till the last page