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"Tell eoned in my breast and I screamed back, "I will not tell you!"

I was ain; I ducked my head and she lashed at s, ainstwhen she struckaway frothe crop

I had to get away I crawled away frorabto , and stu onto the banister I looked behind me; she was on her knees at the top of the stairs, her hair straggling, her breath rasping

I fled into the drawing room and hid behind the draperies I could not think, but only feel My entire skin was on fire The sweat that oozed fro to the welts; I gasped and panted with the effort of restraining s Soer, and twice as wide I could only stare in disbelief I could hear the ticking of the clock;about on the landing I heard her feet go into her room and heard the door close I was terrified to move; but I could not stay where I was, or I would faint from the heat and the pain Finally I crept into the hall Lily hovered nearby I did not look at her I cli the door behind lass my reflection was monstrous A red weal crossedit almost shut I turned my shoulder toward the mirror; the welts were so numerous that there was scarcely an inch of skin untouched The marks throbbed viciously They needed ointment In the places where she had struck hardest, tiny droplets of blood had eased out at the edges of the welts

I could not sit down; I knelt on the bed and then lay carefully onpillows under me Tears seeped from my eyes I wished for Robbie to come He must come soon He must I could endure no more of my mother's mistreatment