6 Out the Door

That evening Amanda and Ellie Met in the Pantry.

" I heard mistress Trippett," said Ellie."She doesn't want you to go."

"But she knew we were going, Mother told her that when we came here."

"She thought you'd forget about it, " said Ellie

"She wants to keep you here. You work hard and you don't eat much. Jemmy and Meg are coming on, she'll put them to work, and you'll all be working free."

"Oh!" said Amanda." I forgot to ask about the money."

" Money?"

"When Father went away he sold our house. He gave the money to Mother, and she kept it in a purse."

"You'd better forget about it."

"It's ours, we need it."

"Well, you'd best take care care how you ask her," Ellie said," You'd best wait a long time she's already upset."

Amanda waited a week.Then she went back upstairs. This time, Mistress Trippett let her to the sitting room. Her oddest son , Randolph, was there. He was a roly-poly man with pale, fish eyes.

He didn't look at Amanda. I'll get my coat, Mother, and meet you downstairs," he said, and he went out.

Mistress Trippett was dressed foradressed for party, in cherry- coloured silk. She smiled at herself in the mirror.

" I know why you're here ," she said to Amanda" You came to say you're sorry. You came to say you're going to be a good girl. And if you are a good girl, I will forget the foolish things you said.

"Please Ma'am_ Give me the money_ the money you kept for us. It was in the little purse around mom's neck."

" Who do you think paid the doctor? Who do you think kept a roof over your head?"

"But I worked, Ma'am," said Amanda,"and Mother, too, as long as she could."

But mistress Trippett was past hearing. She picked up a book and threw it. It barely missed Amanda's head. Randolph came running

Mistress Trippett pointed at Amanda." Get her out of here! Get her out before I_" Randolph seized Amanda and pushed her out of the room.

She ran down into the kitchen.

"What have u done?" asked Cook.

"What did you say to her?" asked Ellie

" I only asked for the money," said Amanda

Jemmy and Meg crept out from under the table."Amanda," Said Jemmy and he sounded scared. Randolph came down the stairs he said to cook ,"Mother has fainted away. Go help her." He said to Ellie,"Run for the doctor." He saw Amanda."You little pig, you're the cause of it all. Get out of this house, and take those little brats with you. Get out, and don't ever show your face here again!"

He reached for her. He tripped over Jemmy and fell to his knees.

Amanda heard Ellie say,"Oh, run!"

She caught hold of Jemmy and Meg, and they ran, out the backdoor and into the night.