Page 43 of Because I Could Not Stop for Death

Emily told the person on the other side to come in.

“Miss Dickinson, Miss Lavinia,” the train conductor said when he looked to me. “Miss Noble.”

“Willa,” I said. “It’s just Willa.”

He nodded. “Willa. I’m here to let you know that since we are underway, you are welcome to move about the train. There is a dining car to the left when you leave your cabin. Beyond that, we have a lounge car. It’s a very popular place and seating is limited. If you would like to sit in the lounge, I suggest you find a spot now.”

“I think we are very happy right here for the moment. Thank you,” Emily said. “Do you know if my brother made the train?”

“Oh yes, he’s resting in his compartment right now. He nearly missed the train; he was the last person to board.”

Emily gave her sister an “I told you so” look when the conductor said that.

I cleared my throat and hoped that changing the subject would stop the bickering between the two sisters; in particular, I hoped it would stop the bickering about me.

As Miss Lavinia began to work on her needlepoint, I whispered to Emily, “I saw Mr.Johnson on the platform. I believe he boarded this very train.”

“You did?” Emily asked. “Why didn’t you point him out at the time?”

“You and Miss Lavinia were having a conversation, and I didn’t want to interrupt.” I shifted on the leather seat.

“Ah, the conversation about you,” she whispered. “Just bear in mind that Vinnie doesn’t like anyone at first. She didn’t even like Susan when she became my friend. There is a jealousy there.”

“Emily, I’m sitting right here and can hear everything that you have to say.” Miss Lavinia threaded her needle. “This cabin is too small even for whispers. You had better not be hiding anything from me.”

Emily’s eyes slanted in her direction. “Oh, I know. I’m not trying to hide anything at all.”

That was a lie.

The train whistled, and I jumped in my seat.

“It does that when it makes a crossing,” Miss Lavinia said. “You must become used to it.”

My heart was pounding, but Miss Lavinia and Emily seemed to be perfectly calm about travel. Emily set her case on her lap and began to look through her books.

“Can you read, Willa?” Emily asked looking up from her case. Perhaps she could feel my tension as I stared out the window.

“Yes. I love reading, in fact. My mother made sure even if Henry and I didn’t learn anything else we could read.”

“It seems to me that you had a very wise mother,” Emily said. “The ride will be long.” She handed a book to me. It was Jane Eyre. “This one will keep you occupied for a little while. It’s one of my favorites.”

“It’s one that Father didn’t want you to read,” Miss Lavinia said as she threaded her embroidery needle with a new color. This was a vibrant red.

Emily shrugged. “True, but I did anyway, and you are one to criticize; you read it too.”

“Because you read it first and got away with it.”

“It is good to know that I can lead you astray, Little Sister,” Emily said with a laugh.

I ran my hand along the cover of the book. The spine had cracks in it as if it had been read many times before. I was happy to see that. I didn’t want to be the one to break the spine first.

The sisters continued to argue as I opened to page one. Maybe it was just the way they communicated. In any case, I was grateful for a book that would be an escape from Emily’s aloofness and Miss Lavinia’s prickliness if just for a short while.

Chapter Sixteen

My nose was buried in the book. My heart ached every time Mr.Rochester appeared on the page. He was so tormented. I thought Jane could help him, but I was starting to wonder why she would choose to. Maybe it would be better if she struck out on a life of her own. I couldn’t wait to read what happened next. What would she choose?

“Willa,” Emily whispered in a tone that told me that it wasn’t the first time she had whispered my name.

---