The Sunrise

The morning was beckoning me and I had to oblige. Slipping from between my bedclothes, I crept out of the room, so as not to disturb my sister, who was still sleeping. I stepped out onto the porch that was right off of my bedroom and took a deep breath of the clean morning air.  It was slightly chilly, and for a second I wished for my dressing gown, which I had left lying on a chair. But for nothing would I have gone back indoors. The wind blew my dark ringlets into my eyes, and I brushed them quickly to the side.

Oh, how lovely it is, I thought.

Mama and Papa, it seemed, were enjoying a rather enthusiastic disagreement in their room down the hall. I could hear the voices rising and falling, changing swiftly. I sighed. Why can they not see that life would be much easier if they did not argue? I thought to myself. It seemed that my parents were discussing whether or not to go to London. I didn't see Maria slip out, but suddenly her voice was mingled in with theirs, sweet and persuasive.

But the morning was too lovely to waste on arguing, or even thinking about arguments. I turned my attention to the horizon, where the sun was just starting to rise. The dusky clouds were rising, the sun was peeking out, and the horizon was a light pink. It was a gorgeous sight to behold. Every morning when I could, I would wake early and watch the sunrise. There was just something so soothing in the thought of a brand-new day, open to what ever I chose to make of it.

Suddenly the voices grew louder, and I strained my ears to hear what was being said. The few words I could pick out were "London," "gentlemen," and "fortune." I shook my head sadly. It would have been so lovely if I could just travel to London in the way that my cousins did: to see the sights, enjoy the food, without a thought of marriage or money. They were so lucky; they didn't have a mother who was constantly thinking of their marriages. Then I stopped myself. Grandmama was just like Mama to Aunt Jane and Aunt Lizzy, and yet they didn't let it bother them. In fact, they both ended up marrying fine, wealthy gentleman - but they didn't really do anything to try to attract them. I straightened my shoulders and looked once more to the sunrise. The day seemed a little brighter.

It seemed to me that the voices had stopped. I perked up my ears, but I couldn't hear a word. Then I heard a door slamming shut violently and giddy, girlish squeals.

My bedroom door banged open, and Maria ran in gasping.

"Eva! Eva, come here! Oh you'll never guess... oh, Papa is so kind... oh it's just so wonderful...!" Maria was gasping for air as she attempted to tell me her news.

"Maria, calm down! What is it?"

"Papa... Papa has decided that we... we are to go to London!"

My heart started beating at twice it's normal speed.