Little Women - 912 Freedom Library

Little Womenand who rather tyrannized over the old lady, who couldnot get along without her. Her real name was Estelle, butAunt March ordered her to change it, and she obeyed, oncondition that she was never asked to change her religion.She took a fancy to Mademoiselle, and amused her verymuch with odd stories of her life in France, when Amy satwith her while she got up Madam’s laces. She also allowedher to roam about the great house, and examine thecurious and pretty things stored away in the big wardrobesand the ancient chests, for Aunt March hoarded like amagpie. Amy’s chief delight was an Indian cabinet, full ofqueer drawers, little pigeonholes, and secret places, inwhich were kept all sorts of ornaments, some precious,some merely curious, all more or less antique. To examineand arrange these things gave Amy great satisfaction,especially the jewel cases, in which on velvet cushionsreposed the ornaments which had adorned a belle fortyyears ago. There was the garnet set which Aunt Marchwore when she came out, the pearls her father gave her onher wedding day, her lover’s diamonds, the jet mourningrings and pins, the queer lockets, with portraits of deadfriends and weeping willows made of hair inside, the babybracelets her one little daughter had worn, Uncle March’sbig watch, with the red seal so many childish hands had337 of 861