"Yes, to-morrow will be as well as any other day. Unless--unless Mis'
Smith needs me--"
Mr. Thornton said with a dry smile: "I do not think it will be
necessary to consult Mrs. Smith."
The men started for the door, and then extended their hands.
"We want to congratulate you, Miss Doane. We sincerely hope that this
will be the beginning of a very happy life for you. You may command me
in all things. By the way, may we see the Director?"
Drusilla started to the door, but the lawyer intercepted her.
"No; do not go yourself. Ring for her."
Drusilla sat down again, rather aghast at the idea of asking any one
else to do a service for her, who all her life had been at the beck and
call of other people. One of the old ladies came and was asked to bring
Mrs. Smith. The Director came quickly, showing that she had not been
far away.
"Mrs. Smith," Mr. Thornton said, "we will come to-morrow afternoon to
take Miss Doane with us. She has been left a legacy and will no longer
be an inmate of the Doane home."
Mrs. Smith's expression changed instantly.
"Why, I'm real glad. Drusilla, you know I will be the first to rejoice
in your good fortune."
Drusilla's face was a study for a moment as she remembered the many
shrill orders and the thousand and one ways that the Director had
employed to make her lonely life harder than was really necessary; but
kindliness triumphed and the hard look left her eyes.
"I'm sure, Mis' Smith, you will be glad with me," she said; and she
thought in her kindly old heart, "Perhaps she didn't mean to be mean;
she was just too busy to think."
The men left and Drusilla was alone with the Director, whose curiosity
was nearly consuming her.
"What has happened, Drusilla? Has some one left you money?"
"Yes," said Drusilla.
"Who?"
"A relation I didn't know."
"Did he leave you much?"
Drusilla said quietly: "A million dollars."
Mrs. Smith nearly fell from her chair.
"What did you say?"
"A million dollars."
"Are you sure?"
"That's what the lawyer, Mr. Thornton, said."
Mrs. Smith was speechless.
"I can't believe my ears. There must be some mistake. I'll--I'll--go
and talk it over with some one. Do you want to go to your room, or will
you go out to the women, Drusilla?"
"I think I'll go to my room fer a while, if I may--that is, if you
don't need me, Mis' Smith."
Mrs. Smith shook her head. Need her, need a woman who had just been
left a million dollars! No, indeed; not in the way that Drusilla meant.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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