Samantha: An American Girl Holiday

[Samantha and the girls explain to Uncle Gard and Aunt Cornelia about how the orphan home was going to send Nellie away]

Aunt Cornelia:
[shocked] They're not supposed to seperate the families.

Nellie O'Malley:
Ma'am, they do a lot of things they're not supposed to do.

[On Samantha's enthusiasm]

Uncle Gard:
Cornelia, you've created a crusader.

[last lines]

Nellie O'Malley:
First snow. Do you think we're dreaming?

Samantha:
If we are, I hope I never wake up.

Eddie Ryland:
I'm really scared, Samantha.

Samantha:
[Beating the dust of the rug] Cat! fat! rat!

Samantha:
[after dumping Eddie Ryland's money jar on to the collection tray] Amen!

Nellie O'Malley:
[to Samantha; when they meet at the alley behind the orphanage] Mrs. Frouchy says that she'll place me out if I don't behave.

Samantha:
What does she mean?

Nellie O'Malley:
To place me on the orphan train... to get adopted by a family *far away!* In my train, it goes really fast to the mid-west.

Samantha:
With Jenny and Bridget?

Nellie O'Malley:
[in despair] No, they're too young. If she ever sends me, I'll never get to see them again...

Samantha:
[indignant] Oh! You CANNOT go! You and your sisters have to stay together! We've got to find a way... I'm not going to let this happen to you, Nellie, I'm not.

[Nellie looks on with uncertainty]

[Eddie has found Samantha and Nellie in the boathouse on the Edwards-Parkington estate; much to the ire of Nellie's employer, Mrs. Ryland]

Mrs. Ryland:
[furious; to Nellie] *What* were you *doing*, you senseless girl? You would have the WHOLE neighborhood looking for you!

[quietly; still furious]

Mrs. Ryland:
THIS is clearly unacceptable. The servants of this household will not allowed to wander away from the estate grounds, or "spend time" with the neighbor's children.

[Mrs. Ryland barres her teeth and glares hard at Nellie. Then, she turns to Grandmary and Uncle Gard]

Mrs. Ryland:
[calmly] I'm so sorry. This was never meant to happen.

[she is about to leave with her son, Eddie. At the last second, Samantha stops her]

Samantha:
It was MY fault, Mrs. Ryland! It was all my idea. I asked Nellie to keep me company!

[Eddie grunts with shame and disgust]

Mrs. Ryland:
[haughtily] Nevertheless, she should respect and trend other's properties CAREFULLY at ALL times.

[Nellie begins to sniffle; being on the verge of tears]

Grandmary Edwards:
[understandingly] I don't think the girls meant any harm.

Mr. O'Malley:
[stepping in] I promise you, it won't happen again. Please, be easy with her, Ma'am. She's still young, and she forgets her place.

Nellie O'Malley:
[crying] I'm so sorry ma'am! I knew better... I did!

Grandmary Edwards:
It's all right, Nellie.

Samantha:
[Samantha thinks for a moment. Then, filled with compassion, she rushes over and embraces the weeping Nellie, comforting her. While the others look on]

It takes great courage for the person who says the truth and for the person listening to it