The gates ajar. By Elizabeth Stuart Phelps.

4o The Gates Ajar. en quite out of the way of active housekeeping, and have almost forgotten how to entertain a friend. But I do not want her good opinion wasted, and mean they shall have a good time if I can make it for them. It was a little hard at first to see her opposite me at the table; it was Roy's place. While she was sitting there in the light, with the dust and weariness of travel brushed away a little, I was able to make up my mind what this aunt of mine looks like. She is young, then, to begin with, and I find it necessary to reiterate the fact, in order to get it into my stupid brain. The cape and spectacles, the little old woman's shawl and invalid's walk, for which I had prepared myself, persist in hovering before my bewildered eyes, ready to drop down on her at a moment's notice. Just thirty-five she is by her own showing; older than I, to be sure; but as we passed in front of the mirror together, once tonight, I could not see half that difference between us. The peace of her face and the pain of mine contrast sharply, and give me an old, worn look, beside her. After all, though, to one who had seen much of life, hers would be the true maturity perhaps, - the maturity of

/ 254
Pages

Actions

file_download Download Options Download this page PDF - Pages 40-44 Image - Page 40 Plain Text - Page 40

About this Item

Title
The gates ajar. By Elizabeth Stuart Phelps.
Author
Phelps, Elizabeth Stuart, 1844-1911.
Canvas
Page 40
Publication
Boston,: Fields, Osgood, & co.,
1869.

Technical Details

Link to this Item
https://name.umdl.umich.edu/adj0486.0001.001
Link to this scan
https://quod.lib.umich.edu/m/moa/adj0486.0001.001/46

Rights and Permissions

These pages may be freely searched and displayed. Permission must be received for subsequent distribution in print or electronically. Please go to http://www.umdl.umich.edu/ for more information.

Manifest
https://quod.lib.umich.edu/cgi/t/text/api/manifest/moa:adj0486.0001.001

Cite this Item

Full citation
"The gates ajar. By Elizabeth Stuart Phelps." In the digital collection Making of America Books. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/adj0486.0001.001. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed June 1, 2025.
Do you have questions about this content? Need to report a problem? Please contact us.