Emily's Dream Read Online Free Page A

Lizzie and thrust her hands into the soapy sink water, attacking the dirty dishes.
    â€œNot so hard!” Alice urged. “You’re going to break a dish.”
    Once the dishes were done, Emily retreated upstairs to the room she shared with Alice.
    â€œI wish you could be more patient, Milly,” Alice said softy, following Emily into the room. “The Piddingtons won’t be here much longer.”
    â€œOh, have they said when they’re planning to leave?”
    â€œNo, but…”
    â€œDoesn’t Dede see through them?” Emily asked, not letting Alice finish.
    â€œSee through what?” asked Alice.
    Emily looked at her.
    â€œOh, never mind,” she said. She knew Alice was reluctant to believe anything bad of anyone.
    Alice was quiet for a minute as she let down her long red-brown hair.
    â€œDon’t you see, Milly?” she said after awhile. “The Piddingtons’ visit is good for Dede.”
    Emily sniffed.
    â€œYou want her to have friends, don’t you?” Alice continued. “You don’t want her whole life to be just taking care of us.”
    â€œI guess not,” Emily said, feeling a bit guilty. Still, she didn’t know what Dede saw in the Piddingtons.

 8 
A Proposal
    The next day, Emily came home from school to find Johnny in his field and the Piddingtons nowhere to be seen.
    â€œThey’ve gone out in a hired dog cart,” Dede told Emily. Emily knew this was a high two-wheeled cart that men liked to drive.
    â€œIs our horse and carriage not good enough for them?” Emily fumed.
    A dark look crossed Dede’s face. Emily wondered if it was only her words that had annoyed Dede or if Dede might actually be offended by her guests’ actions.
    â€œWe have to excuse men,” Dede said lightly. “They’d rather sit up high and lookout over everything than ride in a low women’s carriage.”
    Men. Why did they get to do whatever they wanted?
    â€œYou can’t blame anyone for wanting the best view along our ocean drive,” continued Dede.
    Emily doubted the Piddingtons knew how to appreciate any view properly, but she didn’t say this out loud. Her mind returned to Johnny. He wouldn’t be getting any exercise today. If only Dede would let her ride him.
    Emily opened her mouth to ask, then caught herself. If she blurted out the idea, Dede would surely say “no” on reflex. Emily would have to broach the subject a little more carefully.
    â€œAre you going to be taking the carriage out later?” Emily asked.
    â€œNo, not tonight, Emily.”
    â€œHas the horse had any exercise today?”
    â€œNo.”
    â€œWill you be taking him out tomorrow?”
    â€œI don’t know, Emily,” Dede snapped. “Ifyou’re wanting me to take you for a drive, I don’t have time to take the carriage out just for fun.”
    â€œI know,” Emily said carefully. “I was just worried about the horse not getting enough exercise.”
    Dede looked troubled.
    â€œYes, I thought the Piddingtons would be using him more,” she said, more to herself than to Emily. “And I’ve got the bishop coming over tomorrow, so I won’t be able to go anywhere.”
    â€œI could ride him around the back field,” Emily suggested, trying not to let her eagerness show. “Just to give him a bit of exercise.”
    â€œHmm.” Dede sounded doubtful. “I don’t know if you could manage him, Emily.”
    â€œI’ve ridden at the Cranes’, and I know how to take care of a horse,” Emily said. The words came out in too much of a rush, and Dede narrowed her eyes. Emily took a deep breath and tried to sound practical.
    â€œIt’s a job Alice and Lizzie won’t want, and you said yourself how busy you are.”
    Dede sighed. “Yes, I suppose it’s the only thing to do when I won’t be able to take the carriage out