"Don't say it! I can't abide that word. It's only rich women who have
temperament; in poor women it's just a nasty disposition. But, my dear,
you are good enough. Don't try to be an angel--you'd bore your Robert
to death. He'd rather see you with a pretty hat than a halo any day;
and I know your kind, Mis' Carrington. You'll go into fits and have to
be put to bed if your dress don't fit, but if your Robert lost his
money, you'd give him your diamonds to sell so's to start him
again--and I'm sure he knows it too."
Mrs. Carrington was quiet for a few moments. Then she looked up with
the tears glistening on her pretty lashes.
"Oh, Miss Doane, you do make me feel that we are going to be happy. I
am going to understand Robert better and he will understand me--"
"Don't worry about him understanding you. Don't think about your inside
feelin's; just talk it all out with him. If he don't understand what
you're thinkin', shake him and tell him he is stupid, and he'll laugh
and you'll laugh--and then you'll kiss each other--and then, where are
you?"
Mrs. Carrington again was quiet. Drusilla watched her for a moment;
then she rose and came over to her chair and, bending down, put her
arms around the young shoulders.
"Dear, jest do this--so fill your heart with sweetness that there won't
be room for the memory of any wrong."
Mrs. Carrington reached up her hands and drew the kindly old face to
hers and kissed the lips; and the tears that had been in her eyes
rolled unheeded down her cheeks.
"Oh, Miss Doane, you are so good! I love you. We are going to begin all
over again."
"That's right, dear. Go to lookin' for the lost heart's desire and if
you look in the right place you'll find it."
As Drusilla was standing by the chair James entered, and, seeing Mrs.
Carrington, started to leave the room. Drusilla turned.
"What is it, James?"
"It's no moment now, Miss Doane, the matter can wait."
"Well, but what is it? Does some one want to see me?"
"Yes; the laundry man. I took the liberty of telling him that you might
see him--"
"Is he in trouble, James?"
"Yes," hesitatingly; "and as I have known him for a great many years
and know he is pretty straight and honest, I--as I said, ma'am--took
the liberty of telling him you might see him, as you are so kind to so
many that come here for help."
"Ssh--ssh--James; you mustn't talk about it. Tell him to come up."
Mrs. Carrington rose to go.
"No, don't go," begged Drusilla. "You know," looking around the room,
"I'm just like a girl that's afraid of gettin' found out. I see a lot
of people that I don't let Mr. Thornton know about. He tried to keep me
from seein' any one who comes here in trouble, but I get around him. I
see every one who comes. James has his orders from Mr. Thornton to keep
'em out, and he has his orders from me to let 'em in, and he's more
afeered of me than he is of Mr. Thornton."
"But, my dear Miss Doane, I should think you would be worried to death."