Twenty years ago Stephen Clark had tried to go with Prissy Strong . That was pretty soon after Prissy 's father had died . She and Emmeline were living alone together . Emmeline was thirty , ten years older than Prissy , and if ever there were two sisters totally different from each other in every way , those two were Emmeline and Prissy Strong . Emmeline took after her father ; she was big and dark and homely , and she was the most domineering creature that ever stepped on shoe leather . She simply ruled poor Prissy with a rod of iron . Prissy herself was a pretty girl -- at least most people thought so . I ca n't honestly say I ever admired her style much myself . I like something with more vim and snap to it . Prissy was slim and pink , with soft , appealing blue eyes , and pale gold hair all clinging in baby rings around her face . She was just as meek and timid as she looked and there was n't a bit of harm in her . I always liked Prissy , even if I did n't admire her looks as much as some people did . Anyway , it was plain her style suited Stephen Clark . He began to drive her , and there was n't a speck of doubt that Prissy liked him . Then Emmeline just put a stopper on the affair . It was pure cantankerousness in her . Stephen was a good match and nothing could be said against him . But Emmeline was just determined that Prissy should n't marry . She could n't get married herself , and she was sore enough about it . Of course , if Prissy had had a spark of spirit she would n't have given in .
But she had n't a mite ; I believe she would have cut off her nose XXXXX Emmeline had ordered her to do it .
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