Rebecca

Miranda, Jane, and Aurelia were the three Sawyer sisters.

Aurelia, the youngest, ran off and married a Randall

and had seven kids.

But her husband died and life on the Randall farm became very tough.

Miranda never forgave Aurelia for leaving the Sawyer family.

But out of pity,

she offered to take in her well-behaved eldest daughter Hannah.

However, Rebecca, the second daughter, went in her place.

And so began Rebecca's new life

at a big brick house in Riverboro, Maine.

Wow! It's so lovely!

Rebecca! Put that down!

Sorry!

You'll drop it and break it.

You don't know that, Miranda.

Oh, come now, Jane.

She broke a precious vase just yesterday.

Who buys perfume in a village, anyway?

Don't tempt children with such items.

Hello, everyone.

Good day, Mr. Cobb.

I'll be with you soon. Please wait a moment.

Sure thing.

Good day, Mr. Cobb!

Can I help you find something?

What a cute shop clerk! I'm low on oil for my wheels.

Oil, you say? A man of taste, I see! Please wait here!

Let's see. Let's see.

Wow! What a lovely bag!

Look! Isn't it lovely?!

Perfect for a cute shop clerk.

Think so?!

Look at her, Miranda. She sure reminds me of someone at times.

I can't quite place it.

Her deadbeat dad, I'm sure!

That's terrible.

Rebecca!

Last time you begged for a dress. Now it's a bag?

Do you know how much it costs to send you to school?

I wasn't trying to...

Children need to wear durable things.

Certainly not such dainty frills!

Young children are drawn to fancy things.

Hannah is young and she wouldn't ask for such a thing.

That's why I offered to take Hannah in.

-Miranda... -You keep quiet!

You shouldn't let the child hear that, Miranda.

Our family is not your business!

What goes on in that brick house is indeed your family's business, but...

Right you are. We're leaving, you two.

Goodbye, Mr. Cobb.

Sheesh.

Living with a handful like Miranda must be tough for a kid.

A few days later...

It's break time. Feel free to go home and change for the performance.

What will you wear?

Aunt Jane is making me a new dress!

If it's done I'll ask if I can wear it!

I'll ask to borrow my mom's ring!

See you later, Emma Jane!

Huh?

Aunt Jane? Are you home?

Oops! Sorry, Eclair!

Huh?

They went to church?

You should have said so, Eclair.

Oh no!

Rebecca! I told you not to use the foyer stairs!

I'm sorry, Aunt Miranda!

It's finished! How lovely!

Aunt Jane must be a magician!

But is it okay to wear it?

Aunt Miranda said not to wear good clothes to school.

But Aunt Jane finished the dress today, just in time.

It must be fate!

Don't you think so, Eclair?

You do! I knew you would!

Aunt Jane would let me wear it, but I'm sure Aunt Miranda would say...

But! But! Just maybe! No, there's no way.

Or is there?

What should I do?!

Oh no! I'll be late!

Emma Jane! Sorry for the wait!

Wow, Rebecca! What a lovely dress!

You look so pretty. Like an exotic princess!

Huh? Do I really?

Of course I don't. I know I'm not that pretty.

That's not true. Maybe not ordinarily, but today you are!

You look pretty as a picture!

Slow down! I can't run that fast!

I planned to ask about the dress during break time, but you were gone.

-And so you took advantage of that fact. -No!

I'm sure you knew I would say no.

I thought you might allow it for our grand performance.

Emma Jane and I performed today.

The board of education praised us.

You danced so well!

Dad taught me that dance.

He taught me all kinds of dances.

Dad could play violin and organ well, but his dancing was the best!

Only a Randall would perform such an unladylike dance in public!

You haven't got one bit of our Sawyer modesty!

-Miranda... -You keep quiet!

It's not just that.

You ignored my wishes and used the guest stairway too.

You didn't tidy up after eating lunch.

And you left without locking the door!

It's a miracle we didn't get robbed!

I'm sorry.

Sheesh. You're unbelievable.

It's as if you try to cause us as much trouble as possible.

I'm sure Hannah would mind herself and do her best to not cause trouble.

-Comparing her to Hannah isn't... -Quiet!

It's no wonder you're heedless.

You dress up, wear flowers, and act blatantly frivolous!

You're just like that effeminate man!

That deadbeat dad of yours!