Emily's Dream Read Online Free

drove through, then she shut the gate and latched it. She watched the back of the carriage until it disappeared around the front of the house.
    At least Mr. Piddington would be away from the house for awhile.

 7 
Serving the Piddingtons
    Supper was late because Dede made them all wait for Mr. Piddington’s return. At last they heard the carriage pull up in front of the house and Mr. Piddington come in the front door.
    â€œHe’s just left the horse there,” Emily complained. “Does he think servants are going to come dashing out to do everything for him?”
    Dede’s eyes narrowed.
    â€œYou and Dick go,” she ordered. “And make sure you put the carriage away properly.”
    â€œI won’t be his servant!” Emily protested. “Don’t be selfish,” Dede said. “Do you want the horse left standing?”
    Mrs. Piddington’s shrill voice carried down the hall as she greeted her husband. Emily turned back to Dede.
    â€œI’m only doing it for the horse,” she hissed and hurried away before she had to see Mr. Piddington. Dick followed her as she slipped out the back door.
    Johnny was still breathing heavily when Emily and Dick reached him, his sides heaving in and out.
    â€œThat nasty Piddington better not have worked you too hard,” Emily whispered to Johnny.
    â€œYeah,” Dick said, coming up beside her. “I bet he stayed too long at one of the road-houses and then had to rush back.”
    They walked Johnny over to the barn and unhitched him from the carriage.
    â€œI heard he used to be a circus horse,” Dick told Emily. “Do you think it’s true?”
    Emily shrugged. She remembered the day several years ago when a circus had appeared in the field across the street. It was before the new houses had been built. She’d gone to bed one night, and the nextmorning three big, striped tents had been poking up into the sky. She hadn’t even heard the wagons arrive or the tents being set up. Father had taken them all to see the animals and the big top show, and Emily had watched with envy the fancy-dressed woman who rode a horse around the ring, standing on its back.
    Emily walked Johnny around the field until he had cooled down and his breathing was regular. As she led him back to the barn, he nudged her gently with his nose, and she scratched the top of his head. It was hard to imagine this quiet old beast galloping around a circus ring.
    Back at the barn, Dick had found a piece of old blanket to rub the sweat and road dirt from Johnny’s body.
    â€œThere you go, Johnny,” Emily said as they finished. She stroked the horse’s neck, and he whickered softly. Emily didn’t care whether or not he really had been a circus horse. It was enough that he was here.
    Inside the house, Emily and Dick cleaned up and hurried into the dining room. AsEmily passed Mr. Piddington, she was sure she smelled liquor on him. She wondered if Dede knew where her precious guest had spent his time. Dede did not approve of roadhouses and taverns.
    After supper, Dede and the Piddingtons retired to the drawing room, while Emily and her other sisters cleared the table and washed the dishes. Although Emily had always helped with the cleaning up after supper, it felt different with the Piddingtons staying at the house.
    â€œThey think we’re servants,” Emily said to Alice.
    â€œDon’t be silly, Emily,” Alice said. “Do you expect guests to wash their own dishes?”
    â€œI bet neither of them has done a speck of work in their whole lives,” Emily said.
    â€œLet he who has never sinned throw the first stone,” said Lizzie.
    Emily groaned. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
    â€œIt means, you only talk to try to get out of doing the work yourself,” Lizzie said.
    â€œThat’s not true!” Emily’s voice rose.
    â€œHush!” Alice whispered.
    Emily turned her back on