Their friend laughed at them, and drew the picture of their future in glowing colours. She was not surprised at the apathy of the poor; the rich are apathetic, too, with less than half the reason. The dwellers in Paradise Grove were what they were because of generations of neglect and suffering. It was not their fault that they had no ambition, and no hope, and she pitied and did not blame them. But she had made up her mind that Paradise Grove should be left comfortably vacant, and that the little company she had taken into her care, and put down safely into her very heart, should enjoy to the full the good things that had been offered. “Are you going down there, Basket Woman?” “Of course I am. I should not like to be out of that. Besides, I shall want to know how you will be getting on. And you will want me just as much there as here.” “And how about the parish doctor? What are we to do without him?” “You won’t want him. I expect you will all pay your own doctor, or have a club doctor, or something of that sort.” “And do you think Mr. Knight will allow any fun?” “What nonsense! Of course he will want you to be as merry as possible. Do you suppose he wants to make you miserable? Does he look like it now?” “Will he allow dancing?” “He will allow everything that is right. Why, you haven’t begun to dream of the good times that are in store for you.” But the people, even those who were willing, were anxious about ways and means. “What are we to do for furniture, Basket Woman? Ours looks a deal better since you’ve ’namelled it, or whatever ’tis you’ve done. But most on ’em are poor bits of things, and can’t be made naught else. They do very well when we’ve only got a room, or, at most, two, to put ’em in; but they won’t look nothing at all in a house; and I should be ashamed to turn mine out for all the neighbours to see how poor they be, and how few there is on ’em—I’d sooner not go at all.” “Yes, so would I,” said another. “And, besides, most of the furniture in this Grove ain’t none too clean, and he won’t like it, I reckon, if we takes all sorts of things down there with us.” “No; that I am sure he will not,” replied the Basket Woman, who wondered if Mr. Knight had the least idea of half of the details involved in his scheme. “Shall I see Mr. Knight for you, and explain your difficulties, and discover what he can suggest? Will you send me to him as your deputation?” “Yes, we will send you.” “And I will take Fanny Burton with me. You will send her, too, won’t you?” “Yes, yes! hands up. There! we all agree.” “I don’t know whether it will be better to have a man or two in the deputation.” “No, no! You go and settle everything for us. You don’t want no man. I won’t say that they haven’t their rights, but they’re poor fish whenever there’s anything got to be done. You go, Basket Woman?” “But you must all tell me this! Will you abide by what I settle for you? Do you trust me enough for that?”