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He narrowed his eyes, fists planted on his hips. “And just what are you sorry for?”
Startled, Ellen stared at him. “Well for... for your examination... I mean, you must have...”
“Failed?” His voice rang out through the schoolyard. Ellen swallowed and gave a little nod. “Well, that shows how much you know. I didn’t fail, Miss Bossy. I passed.” He sounded disgusted, and still scowling, he strode past her and down the lane.
The next morning as they walked to school Lucas explained it to her. Jed had already stormed ahead, still sullen, and the McCaffertys walked with their heads bent together, involved in a heated discussion about whether Mr. Stevenson would let anyone ride in his automobile, and if you’d really want to.
“He didn’t want to pass, really,” Lucas explained. “Be
cause then Pa’d make him go to Glebe.”
Ellen shook her head, not understanding. “But he could have answered them wrong, if he’d wanted to.”
Lucas shook his head. “That wouldn’t be honorable, would it? And it’s not Jed’s way, to make a mistake on purpose.”
She supposed that was true. It was strange, though, to feel sorry for someone who had succeeded. “So he’ll go to Glebe next year?”
Lucas shrugged. “He will if Pa has his way. But Jed’s stubborn, and he told Pa he needed him too much to have him hare off to Kingston for two years.” Lucas paused, his expression somber. “Which is true.”
“On the farm, you mean?”
He nodded. “Jed does his fair share of work, I’ll tell you that.”
“But you could do it, if you needed to. If Jed were to go.”
Lucas looked slightly startled by that suggestion, but then he nodded. “Pa said we’d manage, and I expect we would. But Jed doesn’t want to go, and he’s almost old enough to say yes or no about his own life, or so he says.”
They’d reached the school, with Jed already disappearing into the building, the McCaffertys close behind. “Well, I hope he gets what he wants,” Ellen said with a sigh. She didn’t know what she thought about Jed going to Glebe; she only knew she’d love to have such a chance.
The night before Ellen was to leave for Seaton the McCaffertys threw her a going-away party. It seemed as if half the island came, although of course Ellen knew that couldn’t be true. Dyle had told her nearly two thousand people called the island home.
Still, the parlor was full to bursting with friends: the Lymans save for Maeve, as well as a few other families from church and school; Miss Gardiner, and Captain Jonah, and even Mr. Stevenson of the fancy automobile had come with his pretty young American wife, promising Ellen a spin the next time she came to the island.
“I don’t know when that will be,” Ellen told him somberly. “My aunt hasn’t said.”
Rose put an arm around Ellen’s shoulders. “Oh, we’ll convince her right enough,” she said cheerfully. “We need you here, Ellen. I’ll write to Rose and ask her to send you back in September, just in time for school.”
Ellen only nodded. She suspected her aunt Ruth would find a good reason for her to stay in Seaton, serving in the store and making herself as useful as possible. Aunt Ruth might not love her or even like her very much, but it seemed she still wanted to have her around.
It was bittersweet to have everyone gathered around her that last night, playing parlor games like Hunt the Slipper or Change Seats. Part of Ellen could hardly believe she was here, in this loving circle of friends and family, laughing and smiling and enjoying herself so very much. She felt so blessed, and yet she could not bear to think of boarding the train tomorrow, and returning to Seaton.
The last game of the evening was Throwing the Smile. Ellen loved this game, although she didn’t like being in the middle, trying to make a chosen person smile. You were meant to be silly, and then turn serious all of a sudden, ‘throwing’ the smile, as you looked directly at someone in an attempt to make them laugh.
Ellen watched as several people took turns in the center; Peter cavorted around like a wild thing, causing half the group to burst into giggles, and Dyle was so good at looking terribly solemn, despite the twinkle in his eye, that Rose was lost as soon as he looked at her.
Then Jed was pushed into the middle, clearly reluctant, scowling as usual.
“Now remember, Jed,” Mr. Lyman said mildly, “you’re meant to smile.”
Jed’s mouth turned up at the corners, but only just. “Oh, Jed, honestly!” Caro called out. “That’s a sorry excuse for a smile.”
This was met with a chorus of agreement and with a long-suffering sigh Jed gave a proper smile, although Ellen could tell it didn’t reach his eyes. He moved from person to person, trying to get them to laugh, but everyone looked back at him straight-faced.
“Come on, Jed, you can do better than that!” Captain Jonah called. “I can smile better, boy, and I’ve only got half my teeth!”
For a second Jed’s smile threatened to turn into a scowl, and Ellen almost felt sorry for him. He might not be making it easy for himself, but no one else was either. Then his smile did disappear, and he whipped around suddenly to stare right at Ellen.
She felt as if she’d frozen to her chair, pinned beneath that steely gray gaze. Her mind was too shocked to do anything but register the blazing determination in Jed’s eyes, and then distantly she heard someone tell him he could sit back down.
