It was evident Miss Gussie held the reins of household government , and no doubt worthily . Those firm , capable white hands of hers looked as though they might be equal to a good many emergencies . She talked little , leaving the conversation to Aunt Lucy and myself , though she occasionally dropped in an apt word . Toward the end of the meal , however , she caught hold of an unfortunate opinion I had incautiously advanced and tore it into tatters . The result was a spirited argument , in which Miss Gussie held her own with such ability that I was utterly routed and found another grievance against her . It was very humiliating to be worsted by a girl -- a country girl at that , who had passed most of her life on a farm ! No doubt she was strong-minded and wanted to vote . I was quite prepared to believe anything of her . After tea Miss Ashley proposed a walk around the premises , in order to initiate me into my duties . Apart from his farm , Mr. Ashley owned large grist-and saw-mills and did a flourishing business , with the details of which Miss Gussie seemed so conversant that I lost all doubt of her ability to run the whole thing as she had claimed . I felt quite ignorant in the light of her superior knowledge , and our walk was enlivened by some rather too lively discussions between us . We walked about together , however , till the shadows of the firs by the mills stretched nearly across the pond and the white moon began to put on a silvery burnish . Then we wound up by a bitter dispute , during which Gussie 's eyes were very black and each cheek had a round , red stain on it . She had a little air of triumph at having defeated me . `` I have to go now and see about putting away the milk , and I dare say you 're not sorry to be rid of me , '' she said , with a demureness I had not credited her with , `` but if you come to the verandah in half an hour I 'll bring you out a glass of new milk and some pound cake I made today by a recipe that 's been in the family for one hundred years , and I hope it will choke you for all the snubs you 've been giving me . '' She walked away after this amiable wish , and I stood by the pond till the salmon tints faded from its waters and stars began to mirror themselves brokenly in its ripples . The mellow air was full of sweet , mingled eventide sounds as I walked back to the house . Aunt Lucy was knitting on the verandah . Gussie brought out cake and milk and chatted to us while we ate , in an inconsequent girlish way , or fed bits of cake to a green-eyed goblin in the likeness of a black cat . She appeared in such an amiable light that I was half inclined to reconsider my opinion of her .
When I went to my room the vase full of crimson leaves on my table suggested Gussie , and I repented of my unfriendliness for a moment -- and only XXXXX a moment .
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