Portraits of the Past

Portraits of the Past
Smiles will long be remembered more so than a fear
When goodness guards our minds' lives to quite, protect, and heal

It was after sunset and supper when I finally opened the letter from my parents.  I went to my bedroom to read it so I wouldn't be distracted by the others in the house.  I sat on the bed near the table where the light would make it easier to read and I was closer to the portrait I had of us all.  Boris was curled up on the rug by my feet.  The writing was in my mother's hand.  The letter read as such:

My dearest Penelope,
I received your letter today.  It was so very good to hear from you and to know that you and Isabella are doing well.  Your father and I have just returned from a trip to visit your uncle Mavis and aunt Hilda.  They ask me to send their love to you the next time I wrote.  We had a marvelous time while there.  Your uncle Mavis took us to watch a live symphony perform in the Maple city's garden park.  It was an amazing evening. The weather was perfect for the evening.  The best way to describe it to you would be the same kind of weather that was there on the day of your last birthday we spent together.  Do you remember?  The sky was so clear all day and night.  We had to wear a jacket because the wind was a little cool but not too breezy.  That's what it reminded me of.  How I wished you were here to be with us.  Any way, when we arrived there was a man waiting there to park the car.  We were escorted by two ushers down a long carpeted walk way.  Along the carpeted path there were the most beautiful lanterns, sitting on the ground next to the carpet, that lit our way.  They reminded me of street lamps that line a city sidewalk.  The trees in the park had been decorated with an assortment of shiny glass globes and glittering ribbons and stars that would remind you of the decorations we would put on our Christmas tree.  There was a small group of musicians seated on a stage playing the Blue Danube as we were escorted to our seats.  There must have been more than a hundred chairs there, with only half of them full when we walked through.  The ushers seated us in the center of a row, six rows away from the front where the stage was.  I would say we were there for more than half an hour before the rest of the seats were filled and another group, a much larger group of musicians, entered the stage with more instruments than you and I have ever seen in one place.  There were harps, cellos, oboes, violins, enormous bass violins, clarinets, flutes, French horns, large round pot belly drums, piccolos, bassoons, and many more that I don't know what you would call them.  There was even a large grand piano that sat center of the stage, with all the other musicians and their instruments sitting around it.  The stage itself was decorated with huge bouquets of flowers in mixed arrangements of lilies, dahlias, long ornamental grasses, mums, carnations and lanterns of every shape and size.  I have to admit I felt like a young child as I sat there.  I have never seen or imagined anything quiet like it before in my life.  I wore a long evening dress made of a lovely champagne colored chiffon, with a matching chines silk shawl that had a most delicate lace around the edge of the garment.  Your aunt Hilda wore an ivory cream dress with a beautiful matching colored hat covered with small butter colored silk roses and a long white ostrich feather.  We had so much fun dressing up for our evening. Your uncle Mavis wore a black tuxedo with long coat tails, an ivory cream colored shirt to match your aunt Hilda's dress, and wore a very tall top hat.  Quiet like the one Mr. Samuels use to wear when you were in grammar school.  Your father wore a tuxedo as well.  It was a double breasted black jacket with large gold buttons, a champagne colored vest, and bow tie with a white shirt. I bought him a champagne colored carnation to wear on his lapel.   Yes, he too wore a top hat.  The one you bought him for his birthday, last year, with the walking cane that matched.  He looked more handsome than I can ever remember him looking.  The symphony played for two and a half hours.  We all had a most enchanted evening.  After we left the park we went to your aunt Hilda's favorite restaurant for a late supper.  She chose the meal for all of us which consisted of a beautiful garden salad made with baby spinach leafs, carrots, sweet snow peas, small orange tomatoes, and a raspberry vinaigrette as our appetizer; a roasted chicken with celery, onion bread crumb dressing, stuffed mushrooms, fresh whole green beans cooked with light green onions, small yellow potatoes seasoned with chives, and for dessert a delicious chocolate pudding cake baked the way I use to make for us at home.  Your father and I ate so much that evening that it was well into the afternoon the next day before either of us could eat again.
The weather here in Bridge Port has been very mild, as you can imagine, for this time of year.  The leaves on the trees are starting to show some signs of the season change ahead of us.  It rains once every other week or so.  We had a few light sprinkles of rain here this morning but not enough to water the flowers in our back yard.  Your father and I are considering tearing down the old wooden fence around here and having a new one built.  The boards on the one here now are decayed almost completely away at the bottom and the neighbors cat don't seem to know how to stay in it's own yard.  Of course your father and I don't mind the visits, but Ms. Mittens our cat, and Satchel, Boris's sister, aren't as inclined to the visits as we are.  Your father believes it's of a Persian variety cat because it has very long multi colored hair. 
Before I forget I found a new winter coat for you for winter.  It will be the middle of next week before I can send it to you because I am having it altered to fit you better.  I found it at Mr. Taubert's coat and clothing store last week while your father and I were shopping for our new winter wears.  I am also sending you a pair of matching gloves and a scarf, that your father chose for you, so don't bother buying any on your own.  These will surely arrive well before the cold weather gets to Rivertown.  I am also sending Isabella the same.  I'm sure she could use a new coat as well for the winter. 
Your letter said that you were attentively making plans to visit us for the holidays.  I do hope that you both can.  As you know we have three extra bedrooms in this house and there is more than enough room for you both and our darling dogs who we both miss very much.  I didn't know a kitchen could seem so empty of a morning without Stogie sitting in front of the cold box waiting on his hambone.   I'm sure Boris will be pleased to see Satchel again.  Your father says dogs have magnificent memories.  He related it to their sense of smell and hearing.  You know how he goes on about all the information he reads or learns from his friends at the library.  He and Mr. Lindstrom have started a new program there to help those who can't read or write to learn how.  They open the library three nights a week for those gentlemen who work of a day to come in and began a study course to learn.  Of course Mr. Lindstrom and himself provide all the study books free of charge to those who attend.   They are also discussing the idea of having me, Mrs. Lindstrom, and Mrs. Taubert begin a class for the women as well.  Which we are all looking forward to start.   So far your father has had much success with his classes.  He and Mr. Lindstrom have in excess of thirty students who attend, and even more than that have shown interest and sign up every day. 
Well, the hour is growing late here, and your father is reading this over my shoulder as I write.  He says to tell you that he misses you dearly and that he does hope you are keeping yourself as healthy as you can.  He told me to thank you for the vanilla pipe tobacco you sent to him from Martin's store, and of course, I thank you for the lovely stationary and inkwell set that you sent to me. I wrote this letter on it so you would know how very much it is appreciated, as are you my dear Penelope.  Please take good care of yourself and Isabella.  My prayers are with you always, as are my fondest thoughts and sweetest dreams.  I look forward to hearing from you again soon, until then remember:
"...if ever then that life forsake you
and lead you wayward from my sight
trust your soul upon my memory
and rest, my love, till morning's light."
Mom

I reread the letter over again then thought about the telegram I had sent earlier in the day.  There was a light knock on my door.  "It's open" I responded.  Isabella stepped inside and spoke, "I thought you were asleep."
"No, was reading the letter I got from my parents."
"How are they" she asked.
"Good, mother was telling me about going to a symphony with my uncle Mavis and aunt Hilda.  You can read it if you want."
"I'd like that" she said then sat down next to me on the bed.  "How's your father?"  She wanted to know.  I handed her the letter, "busy, as usual.  It's there in the letter."  She took the letter and began to read.  I sat looking at the picture on my table.  After a few minutes she folded the stationary in half and handed it back to me.  "Your mother always signs her letters with that verse.  What's it from?"
"I'm not sure.  She use to recite it to me before bedtime when I was younger, right after bedtime prayers.  There's more to it than that but that's how the verse ends."
"It's lovely.  I'd like to hear the rest of it someday if you can remember it."  Before I could answer there was another knock on the door.  We both answered, "come in."  Matilda stood in the door way.  She spoke politely, "I'm sorry to interrupt you; is now a bad time?"  Isabella looked at me, I answered Matilda.  "No, we were just reading a letter I received from my mom and dad.  What did you need?"  She stepped inside the room two steps then stopped to speak.  "I didn't need anything, I was just hoping I had caught the two of you before you had went to bed.  I bought some things in town today and would like to show them to both of you.  If you have time of course."  We both nodded our heads yes and Isabella spoke for both of us.  "Sure, we have time."  The answer made Matilda smile.  "Excellent," she said, "I'll be in the living room when you're ready."  She then left the room.  We looked at each other only for a moment.  I folded the letter then tucked it back inside the envelope placing it on my table by the picture before I left the bed to go to the living room. 
Matilda was seated on the couch.  On the table in front of her were three packages, one a right size larger than the others.  She invited Isabella to sit next to her, I sat down in the chair at the end of the table.  Boris woke from his slumber and came into the room to join us.  He laid down by my feet, I patted his head gently.  Matilda spoke first, "I know that since my arrival things haven't been as pleasant as any of us would have liked, however I was hoping, since this morning, that after today we could put all of that behind us and start over."  Isabella answered immediately, "well of course we can, Matilda.  Please, don't think another thought about it.  It's forgotten." 
"Well, yes I knew you would say that" Matilda took Isabella's hands in her own and smiled.  "You've put up with me for years through my silliness but" she looked at me, "Penelope hasn't and this is her home.  I have been an ungrateful, rude house guest and I do hope that you will forgive me, Penelope."  I couldn't help myself but to say, "you are a prudish old thing to be so young."  Isabella laughed lightly.  Matilda looked at me acknowledging that I was egging her on.  "Yes, I have been a prude but you were one hundred percent correct when you said that I also had no right to be so demanding of you in your own home.  I am geniunely sorry for my behavior and hope that you will accept my apology.  I will make sure that I show you the same respect in your home as I would want to be shown in my own.  Will you please forgive me?"
"Yes" I answered her honestly, "apology accepted, and Boris forgives you too."  I reached down to pet his head again.  Matilda looked at the dog, smiled, and said "well thank you Boris.  I do hope you do.  Now," she paused to take one of the boxes on the table in her hands, "as a token of our new beginning I would like to give you this."  She offered the box to me.  I looked at Isabella who simply raised her eyebrows slightly, looked at the box then to me.  I sat up in my chair and took the wrapped package from Matilda.  As I did I said, "Matilda, you don't have to gift me for me to accept your apology."
"Good" she said, "because that's not why I bought these.  I bought these as a way to show my appreciation for you, Isabella and Boris of course, for accepting me into your home so graciously.  You have been more than a generous host and I wanted to thank you, and give you all something as to commemorate my first visit; a house warming gift, if you will." 
"Well thank you" I replied then looked at the box in my hands.
"Go on then" Matilda insisted, "open it."
I unwrapped the paper wrapping then opened the box.  I couldn't help but smile when I saw what was inside, "you didn't".
"I did" Matilda giggled playfully, "go on."
I laughed as I took three new dog collars, all the same color, out of the box then showed them to Isabella.  Isabella herself joined in with a good laugh herself.  "Excellent choice" she said to Matilda.  "They are aren't they.  Now I know what you're thinking and I'm really not use to being around dogs inside a house but they really did need a new collar.  The ones they have look like they're almost wore out.  Try them on, try Boris'."
I did as she asked taking Boris' old collar off then putting the new one on.  It was a perfect fit.  Boris looked at me while he sniffed at his old collar laying on the air of the chair.  I put my fingers under the new collar to make sure I had adjusted it properly then thanked Matilda again.  "You're welcome" she stated, "now for you" she said while handing me another package.  "For me?" I clarified.  "Yes for you" she reinforced making sure I took the package she was offering.  "And before you ask, it's not a matching collar" she joked.  I admired the humor she provided then proceeded to open the paper wrapping on the gift she gave to me.  When I pulled back the paper I saw a dark apricot shirt folded neatly in the packaging.  My initials had been embroidered on the collar of the shirt on both sides with a gold colored thread.  "Thank you" I responded while holding the shirt up for Isabella to see.  "You're welcome, Penelope.  I thought the color would match your dark hair better than a lighter color.  Oh and please check the embroidery.  I did it myself after we came home.  I was in a bit of a hurry to finish it before this evening so if it comes lose please let me know so I can mend it. And if I chose the wrong size, let me know and I can take it up as you need. Alright?" 
"I will, thank you, Matilda.  I like it." 
"Now, Isabella" Matilda wasted no time moving right along with her gift giving.  "For you my dear sweet friend who has tolerated me longer than anyone else on earth, including my parents."  They both chuckled lightly.  Matilda handed her the largest box that was there.  "This is for you in hopes that it will give you as much entertainment and enjoyment through out your life, as you have me all these many years."  Isabella gave Matilda a generous hug first then began opening her box.  When she opened the top panels to look inside she stopped, looked at Matilda then back into the box.  Without speaking she sat the box down on the floor by her feet.  Boris moved over next to where she had sat it and looked inside.  Isabella and Matilda then lifted the present out of the box together.  When they did they sat it on the table in front of them.  "Oh Matilda," Isabella exclaimed in awe, "it's beautiful."  There on the table sat a large bronze plated cage carousel.  The shiny metal outside had several shapes cut into it's bronze plating; some were houses, some were trees, there was a dog, a cat, a sun, and several smaller stars.  From where I was sitting I could see a colored sheet of paneling on the inside of the structure.  "There's a bottle of oil in there too" Matilda spoke as Isabella inspected the carousel sitting in front of her.  "See" Matilda reached into the box.  "You pour this into here" she opened a side panel on the device and removed a small oil lantern from the center of the merry-go-round.  "Sit it inside, then light it.  But before you do that," she touched a small knobbed handle on the top of the carousel, "You pull this up slightly, give it a few turns until it tightens then sit the lamp inside, close the door, then push this down."  Matilda demonstrated the procedure without the lamp first.  When she did the carousel began to turn around on it's stand playing the soft tinkling sounds of a musical serenade.  It was a delight to behold, awing the both of us.  Matilda looked very well pleased with herself then asserted, "here, let's add the lamp."  As she and Isabella prepared the lamp for the carousel I offered to make some refreshments.  "Would either of you like to have some coffee, or maybe a tea perhaps?" 
"Coffee" Isabella answered immediately.  Matilda gave me a quick wink with a smile.  "Tea, unless of course you threw it all out."  I playfully responded, "I threw it all out; do you want coffee or water."  Matilda didn't give in so easily.  "Well how about some juice.  I know you have juice."
"Not for you" I played right along with her.  "The juice is for the people who live here and the mice."  Isabella rolled her eyes, giggle lightly and added to our jesting's, "is this going to go on forever with you two?"
"Probably" said Matilda feigning an upitity facial expression, "coffee drinking clod stomper" she babbled on then laughed after she spoke.  "Definitely" I concurred, "you powdered old prude."  We all enjoyed the moment with a laugh then I went to the kitchen to make coffee and tea.  While I was in the kitchen they went about putting the oil in the oil lamp and preparing the carousel for it's maiden display.  I walked over to the window in the kitchen and looked outside.  Everything looked exactly as it usually did.  I looked toward the barn and the trees which were now darker than night in the distance.  There was rain dripping from the porch roof and windows and a low ground fog covering the grass.  I could still see lightning bugs in the trees twinkling every where my eyes could see.  I thought about Oliver in the barn then made a quick look through the cabinets and cold box deciding what to gather for him later.  Just as the tea kettle whistled Isabella called out to me from the living room, "you have to see this, it's amazing."  As I took the tea kettle off of the stove a bright blue light passed across the wall in the kitchen, then an orange one.  I turned to look into the living room only to see another light, this one yellow, passed along the walls of the living room then vaguely into the kitchen where I was.  I sat the kettle on the table and went into the living room to see what Isabella was talking about.  The carousel sat on the table playing it's music while the structure turned gently around in a circle casting the multicolored light patterns of the houses, trees, animals and such across the walls of the room into the kitchen.  I went to the other lamps in the room and trimmed their wicks to see the full display from the merry-go-round.  It was exquisite.  I had never seen anything like it anywhere before in my life.  The colored panels of glass inside the carousel played in time with the music decorating the entire room with a motion of colored pictures.  We all enjoyed the moment openly then I went back to the kitchen to finish gathering the beverages I had started earlier.  I took the silver tea tray from the top of the cupboard where it was kept then found some chocolate raspberry truffles in the pantry to add to our evening's festivities.  I filled the cream canister and the sugar bowl that went with the tea set.  After placing the cups and saucers on the tray I returned to the living room and sat the tray at the end of the table nearest my chair away from the carousel so it could turn freely.  Matilda carefully moved the carousel so the tray and carousel could sit comfortably without crowding the other then  I poured the coffee in Isabella's cup first, then my own.  Isabella offered to pour Matilda's tea to which she declined preferring to prepare her own.  While she prepped her tea cup on her saucer she looked at me sheepishly to say, "I had no idea that you had such a beautiful tea set."  I picked up some of the truffles off of the serving dish to put on my cup saucer then sat down in my chair.  "It's a family heirloom.  It was my mother's mother's then my mother's and now mine.  Do you have heirlooms where you come from?"  She made a pift sound with her mouth then rolled her eyes noting my playfulness.  "Yes we have heirlooms."
"I mean besides those things you call husbands?"
Matilda's mouth fell open in a gasp making a high pitched squeal and Isabella's almost spit her coffee out of her mouth.  After we all enjoyed the laugh Matilda asked,  "Honestly Isabella, only I bring out this side of her?"  Isabella was drying the corners of her mouth with a napkin when she answered.  "Well, the comradery no, that is her usual wit but the quibbling" she looked at me, "you know, now that you mention it, I do know of one other person she seems to have that sort of banter with."  Matilda was eager to know.  "You must tell me then."  Isabella looked at me and asked.  "Should I?"  I answered the both of them plainly, "no."  Isabella must have recognized something in my answer because she promptly changed the conversation leading Matilda away from the prying.  "Oh before I forget do you remember the lady I introduced you to today while we were in the dress store?"  Matilda responded in turn, "Mrs. Langston?"  Isabella agreed with her choice then proceeded to tell us about a party that her and her husband Howard were having at the end of the month to celebrate their fifth year wedding anniversary and how their families were preparing for it.  I looked at the carousel on the table while wondering off to think in my own thoughts, as Isabella was talking, remembering the conversation I had had with Howard and Simon Grouse earlier in the day right before I had went to the soda shop.  The carousel turned round after round on the table.  I'm not sure exactly when the conversation they were having changed directions but I do know that when Matilda ask me if I was listening to her I had to redirect my attention back to them both.  "I'm sorry what?"
"I said there is something important that I need to tell the both of you."  The tone of Matilda's voice had changed dramatically since I had lost track of their conversation.  "It's about those men that were on the river yesterday and that fellow they were with."  Now she had my full attention.  I scooted to the front of my chair then sat my cup on the table.  "Longfellow, you mean?" 
Matilda took a deep breath before she began to speak, "Not so much Mr. Longfellow, although I do know some about him as well, but one of the others.  One of the men that stepped off the barge."
"Which one?"  I was ready to hear what she had to say. 
"The tallest one that made the other fellow put his gun away from your dogs face."  The color in her face began to fade.  Isabella asked the next question.  "Do you know him?"  Matilda answered, "yes, I think so.  I can't be certain from that kind of distance but it did look like him from the window where I was watching, or rather where we were watching" she spoke directly to Isabella.  Isabella turned to look back at me then encouraged Matilda to go on with her information.  "I haven't known him long, only a few months, but his reputation in Pembrook and Abingdon isn't necessarily a good one.  His name is Gaston LaFeu.  I worked for his brother Arnold and his wife Hannah first; I was the governess to their three children for over a year before I met Gaston and his family.  I met Gaston and his wife Rosa at his brother's Christmas party hosted by Arnold and his wife last year.  It was a very nice evening until I was introduced to Gaston then it seemed no matter where I was he would show up and not just by coincidence.  He was being overly flirtatious, rude, and abnormally outrageous in front of everyone, including his wife, his children, his brothers and sister, and his parents.  I retired to my quarters earlier than I wanted because it was more than I could bare to endure for the entire evening.  That was the last I saw of him until after the New Year when his brother Arnold approached me to ask if I would be willing to change locations in order to work for his brother.  His wife, Rosa was pregnant with their fourth child and her health was deteriorating so they needed someone quickly.  I told him no stating that I would prefer staying closer to my own family which I thought would suffice given the situation.  Arnold never mentioned it again but weeks later his wife Hannah came to me and more or less told me that if I refuse employment for Gaston then I would be fired regardless of my situation."  Isabella and I both sat silently listening to Matilda tell us all the details she could.  While she was talking I could tell that she was being as honest as she could be about the situation so I listened closely for what ever detail she could give.  Matilda told us about moving in with Gaston and his wife Rosa, how Gaston ruled his house like a tyrant with no concern for his wife or children; more or less making a mockery out of his entire family with absolutely no regard at all for their well being.  Matilda had been their fifth governess within the year, according to their butler, and all of the other women who had worked in Gaston's household had either been fired, or disappeared all together without a trace.  His children feared him more than they did the dark and their mother Rosa was of no importance to him what so ever.  The stories she told us of him belittling her in front of others was something I'd rather not have known however she told us all the same.  He would frequently bring home associates, as Matilda called them, and women into the house where he would lock his wife and children up in their rooms while he would host flamboyant parties until all hours of the night.  After threatening Matilda on the fourth week of her employment with them she began to make plans to leave the house before Gaston could do any harm to her.  She was shaking as she talked; the affects of his presence still visibly disturbed her.  After her confession of the events in his house I chose to question her cautiously.
"So you know the man on the barge; not Madison Longfellow?"
Matilda took a sip of her tea before she spoke, "I met Mr. Longfellow on more than one occasion.  Mr. LaFeu mentioned him almost every day as someone he did business with."
"What kind of business?"  Isabella had to ask.
"I'm not sure exactly.  But I did hear them talking about having several property and estate deals that Gaston wanted to sell to him rather than his brothers, which I found terribly odd considering that his brothers and his father's family own banks in Pembrook and Tazwell.  Until Mr. Sheffield, his butler, began telling me about how he believed Mr. LaFeu had came to own those properties."
"Which was" I encouraged her to talk. 
"Through most of the women he had employed.  I'd rather not say their names, the poor dears, they must of been horrified, however Mr. Sheffield made it very clear that Gaston used them in the most unnatural ways then would threaten them and their families to relent to his demands or he would revert to shaming them, harassing them, exploiting their businesses until they did give him what he wanted; which to be honest was never enough for him.  Once he started he didn't stop until he had ran the entire family out of town for fear of their lives.  Gaston's family had all but disowned him, refused to buy the properties he extorted, God bless their pride, so he turned to Mr. Longfellow whose family owns more of the state side lands than anyone else.  I use to hear them laugh about it not mattering how Gaston had came about the property as long as he sold it to the Longfellow's.  His brothers, including Mr. Arnold had forbade Gaston to even walk in front of their establishments and distanced their selves from him as much as possible but when he could, you best believe he would show up to ruin their lives as well.  Like the Christmas party I was telling you about.  Apparently he wasn't an invited guest, rather invited himself, always putting pressure on his family in front of others to adhere to their high moral conduct as he scoffed at them."
It was then Isabella interrupted Matilda's expose.  "Wait, so if his family had nothing to do with him, and all but disowned him, why did they fire you and send you to his house for employment?"
"I wondered that myself" Matilda sat her tea saucer back on the table.  "Until Mr. Sheffield cleared that up for me.  Apparently Gaston has some sort of unknown card up his sleeve about Mrs. Hannah that he likes to play when Arnold won't give in to his requests."
"Did he say what it was?" I plundered further into her story.
"No, but he, Mr. Sheffield I mean, believed that Gaston was threatening his brothers and father with Mr. Longfellow's presence, since the Longfellow's are of such a class as statesmen, one of them a governor in our state."
"Wait," that got my attention.  "Mr. Longfellow is a governor in our state?"
"No" Matilda corrected.  "His youngest brother Elbert is and before that two of his uncles; Claxston Longfellow" she looked at Isabella "I'm sure you remember him as he was quiet smitten with you once upon a time."  Isabella blushed, embarrassed that Matilda had mentioned his name.  "And his uncle Matthew Longfellow,  not to mention his father's younger side of the family, nephews and son in laws and his wife's family makes up the entire local government in Pembrook now a days.  Mr. Sheffield said there's no telling what Gaston could talk the Longfellow's into if he wanted to ruin Arnold and the rest of his families lives.  Or anyone else's for that matter." 
I'm not going to lie, her story didn't make me feel one bit better.  As a matter of fact I sat back in my chair and silently prayed that Oliver was right; Longfellow was just passing through showing off his artillery and it would be over without any kind of catastrophe befalling our little town and the people who lived here.  I guess I got lost in my thoughts further than I realized because the next voice I heard was Isabella's asking me if I was listening to her.  I apologized for my brief lapse of listening and asked her what I had missed in the conversation.
"Matilda thinks they might have been looking for her; that's why they were dredging the river that way."  Isabella announced.
"Looking for you?"  I asked Matilda.
"Yes, I left in the middle of the night after Gaston had left for the evening.  Mr. Sheffield helped me make the arrangements to sneak out the back with the grocery truck after it delivered their groceries that evening.  He thought it would be safer if I left that way than try to pack and leave by myself because Gaston kept his house guarded around the front of the house but not in back.  Mr. Sheffield's cousin drives for the grocery.  He said he would tell him that I had had a suitor calling on me since my arrival and had ran off in the night with him on my way to Europe."
"Holy Christ" Isabella exclaimed, "you're family!  They're still there, in Pembrook."
"I know" Matilda spoke softly looking at her hands in her lap.  "Mr. Sheffield said he would send word to them of the same, and that he would also explain the truth of the situation to them as soon as he could but for me not to contact them until I had heard from him.  He said he would send a telegram to me as his niece, said the name would be Abalonia.  I was suppose to get as far away as I could and stay there until then.  He had helped someone else, another woman who had been a maid in their house last year, leave the same way.  As far as he knew she was doing well free from Gaston and his nonsense."
Isabella reached for her friends hands and held them to comfort her.  "That's why you came here."
"Yes" Matilda answered.  "I didn't know where else to go.  I couldn't go home.  I couldn't go to another family as a governess to work because of my references and the fear of what he would do if I stayed there."
"Does Gaston live in Pembrook" I wasn't sure that I knew so I asked.
Matilda answered without hesitating.  "He has a house there yes; his family, or the most of them do, yes.  But he lives in a small area between Pembrook and Tazwell called Rockland Flatts.  It's smaller than Rivertown, really.  One grocery store that doubles as a grain store for animals around back, a train station, an old saloon that's been updated to a hotel and restaurant is there but other than that not much of anything else."  I could tell the conversation was wearing on Matilda's mind and body and wanted to ease her somehow so I let go of one question that I hoped would ease her worries.  "So it wasn't your cooking that got you fired?"  She looked at me and shook her head no then did giggle slightly.  "No, my cooking was satisfactory I assure you."  The smile on her face didn't last long.  "When I saw him yesterday I thought for sure he had found out where I was."  Isabella didn't wait to comfort her.  "But he didn't; you're here with us and as if you didn't notice this morning the people around here are very good at keeping up with their friends and neighbors.  They look out for each other; not quiet the same as Pembrook where most are just eaves dropping and gossiping but they actually care for each other.  I can't promise you that nothing bad will happen here but I can promise you that you don't have to deal with this situation all by yourself.  I only wish you had told me earlier."
I let Isabella guide the conversation with her friend while I poured myself another cup of coffee.  At least now I had some information that I could share with Oliver and Mr. Samuels if he attempted to research Mr. Longfellow and Matilda as he said he would.  We sat up talking for the next few hours until all of us were yawning.  Isabella was the first to suggest that we all prepare for bedtime, Matilda agreed and was the first to leave the room.  I gathered the boxes and papers from our gifts together then took them to properly dispose of them.  I kept the boxes but put the papers in the refuse can in the kitchen.  Isabella worked on cleaning up the tea tray from the living room table.  "I'll do the dishes tomorrow" she said then went to gather her things for bed.  I followed her into the bedroom to talk.  "I want you to go with me tonight."  She looked at me, "go? Where?"
"Through the tunnel.  I have some things I need to do since it rained and after hearing all of Matilda's story you need to know how to navigate it.   That way if you're ever here and I'm not you'll know your way."  Isabella didn't even try to pretend that she was comfortable with that information.  "Through a tunnel?"
"Yes."
"The one under the floor in the kitchen that you mentioned yesterday?"
"No, well sort of."
"Sort of?"
"You'll have to see it for yourself to understand."
"Alright, well, what should I wear?" 
"A shirt you don't mind getting dirty and a pair of pants if you have some."
Isabella went to the dresser near the window and began searching through it for clothing.  "Penelope, I've never heard of anything like this before in my life.  I know some people can be harsh in their judgements of others in society and that society itself can shun certain groups of people but this is more than I can even imagine.  I mean honestly, extortion, manipulation, threatening.  It sounds like something out of a history book than modern life.  Matilda and I grew up in Pembrook.  We went to school together, we lived on the same street, we attended the same church and went to the same social gatherings.  How can stuff like this happen in a place without anyone knowing anything about it?"  I could only answer her with my own understanding of the situation.  "Well, apparently people do know about it.  Not all people but some.  Why they allow it to happen is beyond me.  I'm not those people; neither are you and Matilda.  But they do influence our lives.  All we can do is what we can to adequately care for ourselves and each other.  The rest is in the hands of God." 
Isabella scoffed at me under her breath then said,  "Don't drag God into this.  This is a human condition; these are human affairs.  People know better than to hurt other people.  They don't need God to tell them it's wrong.  I'm just concerned about this, this Gaston fellow.  He seems like he don't even care about his own family, let alone anyone else's." 
I sighed knowing she was right then she continued to talk as she changed her clothes.  "And this Longfellow, he seems like he would support Gaston for his own business regardless of who got hurt.  I mean, it's no loss to him; and to think of how him and his family have been representing themselves as this civilized act of human achievement all these years."  I looked at the envelope laying on the table next to my parents photograph and wondered if they had received my telegram.  I didn't mean to interrupt her when I spoke but I did.  "Have you ever heard of the LaFeu family before?"  She answered me immediately unconcerned that I had butted in.  "Of course" she pulled a shirt on over her head.  "Which is to say I know of them, I have never met them before or know what they looked like or that that was who was on the barge yesterday, but Matilda was telling the truth about them.  They pretty much keep to their selves like most people of their social realm.  I was considering working for them myself once but took another household's instead."
"The Klein's?"
"Yes" she sat down on the bed to remove the shoes she had been wearing.  "Remind me to send a thank you to my uncle Philip will you?  He was the one who suggested the Klein's instead of the Longfellow's."  She continued talking while I listened, considering exactly what any of this would mean to anyone.  "I tell you, when I was growing up I was taught a lot of things; how to dress properly, how to behave properly both at home and in public, how to regard or disregard people's behaviors and indiscretions but no one ever taught me how to deal with what Matilda just described.  Having to literally escape a madman's house, honestly, I can't even imagine what she must have been thinking; and her poor parents, God bless them, they're so mild and mannerly.  Something like this would appall them to their roots."
"Them and a lot of other people" I injected.
"Indeed" Isabella was now putting on a pair of trousers.  "What about this Claxton?  Longfellow was it" my question made her stop moving all together.  "Matilda said you knew him rather well."  Isabella quieted then continued to put on the clothing she had prepared for our journey out this evening.  "I didn't know him well."  I could see the topic caused her some agitation.  "I was introduced to him very formally just before I finished with my governess training."
"How so?" 
"At the school, I was told that he and some of the others who visited there were looking for new hire's after we finished our training."
"So he was looking for a governess for" I was still trying to put the story together for my own benefit but I'm not so sure she took it that way. 
"A governess, yes" her reply was quiet hasty.
"So he had children?  And a fascination for you?"
"What are you implying Penelope?"  Isabella demanded suddenly.  I looked at her while I thought.  My mother always did say I had the most curious mind she had ever known; as a child when I was growing up, she always encouraged my questions but she was much more patient with me than most of the people I had grown to know, including Isabella who was now growing very uncomfortable with me asking her anything.  "I'm not implying anything.  I was just wondering how well you knew him?"  Isabella made no secret about defending her knowledge of him.  "I knew him well enough to know that he was a very wealthy man who had a wife, two kids, and would offer me a very comfortable living if I had worked for him.  That's all."  I nodded my head quietly and decided to let the conversation stay where it was.  "Alright, well" I walked to the door.  "I have to gather a few things from the kitchen, I'll be back in a few minutes."  I walked out of the room and saw Matilda exiting the bathroom.  "Penelope, I wanted to apologize again to you.  I would have never came here if I thought this kind of trouble would be here."  Her comment made me grin.  "Would of went somewhere else, ey?"  I asked playfully.  She smiled again.  "Definitely" she answered.  "Can't say that I blame you.  I'm going to the kitchen, do you need anything while I'm there?"  I asked her to which she responded,  "No thank you, I'm fine.  I'm on my way to bed, good night."
"Good night, Matilda."
She stepped a few steps into her bedroom then closed the door.  I looked at the carousel on the table which had stopped playing it's music but was still lighting the room with it's colorful glass reflections.  I saw the light under Matilda's door go out then made my way into the kitchen to gather a few items to take with me to the barn hatch this evening.  It didn't take long to decide.  I gathered a dozen of hard boiled eggs, a ham shank that was cured and hanging near the cold box, some grapes, plums, apples, cheese, bread, and the large pretzel Mr. Voiles had gave me as a gift earlier that day.  I gathered some mustard that was unopened from the pantry, and some carrots that were stored in the with the potatoes in the potato bin.  The bag I was gathering the items in began to feel rather heavy so I decided that would be enough for the time being.  I sat the bag I had loaded on the table then went to the living room and restarted the carousel.  After I had pushed the plunger on the top, I secured all the doors and windows in the living room, the kitchen and bathroom.  Stogie and Spike had woke from their evening nap and were following me from room to room.  I went back to the kitchen to find them something to eat.  After I had fed them I took the bag from the table then went back to my bedroom.  Before I could knock on the door Isabella opened it from the other side.  It startled us both but only slightly.  "What's that?"  She asked me about the bag in my hand.  I stepped into the bedroom and sat it down on the bed.  "You'll see" was the only answer I gave her. 
"Is Matilda still in the living room" she asked.
"No, she went to bed."  While I spoke I went to the closet and opened it.  I pushed all the clothes on the bar to one side of the closet then slide the closet floor boards back revealing the empty space that would lead us underneath.  Isabella was still standing in the doorway looking into the living room.  I went on with gathering what I would need for the events we were about to embark on.  In a few minutes I heard Isabella greet Boris who had made his way to the bedroom.  "Here Boris" I called to him.  He responded immediately and came straight to my side.  "There you are.  Are you ready for our walk?  Huh, are you" I petted his head while he wagged his tail obviously happy to be with me.  Isabella eased the door closed some then asked, "what about Matilda?"
"What about her?"
"Don't you think she should go with us?"
"Not at the moment, no" I stood up then walked to retrieve the long leash from the side of the door.  "And before you ask, no I'm not excluding her all together.  I just thought she had had a rather long day and could use the rest more than plundering around in the dark with us tonight.  She seems to get upset so easily over the slightest thing" I talked while I was adjusting the leash, "especially since the two of you have been so well schooled on social etiquets.  You'd figure they would have taught you both how to not over react."  When I looked back up Isabella was peering at me without as much as a hint of emotion on her face.  "Are you ready to go" I asked her.  She stood there looking at me with a rather blank expression on her face without saying a word.  I looked at the bed where the food bag was laying then at Boris then back to her.  "I was going to leave the carousel on while we went."  She sighed, closed the bedroom door then stepped in front of me.  "Yes, I'm ready."  I stepped back around her, locked the door, then turned the lamp in the bedroom down.  "Good, Boris is going with us, so pay attention as we go."  I handed her the leash and told her to tie it around her waist.  I had to take a few minutes to show her how to adjust it properly then I attached the other end to Boris's collar.  "There, now" I went to the closet. 
"What about you" she asked lifting the leash in her hand. 
"Patience, Isabella.  I'll show you." 

A Much Trusted Friend