6

Seline went to the Ladies’ study after breakfast as usual, but her mother came in and told her there would be no lessons today since they had so much to do. Her mother asked her to help Henni in the kitchen while she went to her younger sisters room to find out why they were not down stairs yet. Seline figured that they were sleeping in because they were probably up all night talking. Alene must be very excited. After all it was the match that she wanted. When her mother came to the kitchen 20 minutes later she seemed frazzled. “Seline dear, your sister is not feeling well, and would like to talk to you. She is staying in bed for the day. Would you go up and see her.” Seline thought this was odd, but maybe it was Alice that wanted to see her as she would be the sister who thinks that she is being married off to the one man that all her sisters had always teased her about all her life and that they thought she would end up married to.

Seline went upstairs to find the it was Alene in bed waiting for her and Alice stepped out of the room as she went by she put a consoling hand on Seline’s shoulder. Seline was now very confused. Why would Alene be in bed? She walked over and sat on the edge of her sisters bed and held her hand. It was cold.

“Alene darling you are freezing.” Alene immediately burst into tears. “Seline forgive me. Forgive me.” She cried, reaching her arms around her sister and pulling her to her.

“What ever it is Alene it can’t be as bad as all that. Did Papa not tell you the wonderful news last night? You are to be betrothed to Mr. Glassman this very evening. Isn’t that wonderful?”

The only response that Alene gave was to start crying harder than before.

“But I thought that you were fond of Mr. Glassman? I thought that this was what you wanted and that you would be happy with the match.” Seline was now confused. Not two days ago Alene was saying that she hoped in a years time that Mr. Glassman would have enough money to buy a place of his own and be able to pay a betrothal gift to Papa that would make him say yes. Now she had her wish and she was in near hysterics.

“What is wrong darling? Is it because he does not have a proper place of his own yet? Don’t worry about that I am sure Papa will let you live in the old cottage until you have your own place.”

Alene tried to pull herself together and stop crying. She took a few deep breaths and wiped her face with her night dress sleeve. Her red eyes and nose and sleep mussed hair made her look like a child. Seline remembered that she really wasn’t much older than one. She was only 15 after all. “Are you scared about getting married so soon. You are young, but Nettie Tates over on the other side of the river was married at 14 and she has a big beautiful house and 3 babies and one on the way and she is so happy. She has a husband who adores her and I know that Mr. Glassman adores you too. Everything will be just fine. There is nothing to be scared of. I promise.”

Alene had sobered her self by this time and with a very serious face turned to Seline and said “I am the reason that Alice will have to marry Will and you will have to marry that horrible old widower man.”