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I know he is, Harry, because Mrs. Annister told me last week that Mr. Brand thinks he has found a jewel of a secretary the best hes ever had. I was waiting and a gleam of mirth sparkled in her eyes as she smiled fondly upon her sister to tell you until some day when youd be feeling blue. But I just couldnt wait any longer.
Henrietta flushed with pleasure. Im so glad to know that! If hell just keep on being satisfied a few months longer, well have this place paid for!
Oh, were going to pull through all right! Isabella exclaimed, hopeful conviction in her tones and smile. Then she puckered her brows and did her best to look doubtful and alarmed as she went on in a tragic half whisper, her blue eyes dancing: If he doesnt turn pirate and sail away in the meantime, or, maybe, make a villain out of you, with this wicked influence youre getting alarmed about, so that youll maybe steal your own salary and run away with it and leave mother and me to star-r-ve! To think that a famous architect should be just oozing badness all around him like that as Mark Twain said, like ottar of roses out of an otter at the same time that hes evolving such beautiful things out of his brain! Ugh! Its awful!
Henrietta laughed, a short, chuckling laugh that suggested deeper amusement than it expressed. Is there anything you wouldnt make fun of, Bella? Very likely it isnt he, after all, but just my own innate wickedness coming to the surface. Its only that I feel a great desire to amuse myself, and am more willing to be selfish about it than I used to be. Three months ago I wouldnt have gone to this theatre party, with mother ill and you alone with her. I know Im a beast to do it, but I do want to go dreadfully, and
And youre going, and youre not to coddle your conscience any more about it. Its all right, and were all right, and mother and I would feel we were two beasts if you stayed away on our account. What makes you think Mr. Brand responsible for this awful depravity? Because he invited you to his house-warming?
Oh, no! It was thoughtful and lovely of him to include poor little me among his guests, and Im as grateful as Cinderella. But he sometimes says some little thing, in connection with what we are doing, about the pleasure there is in beautiful things and how it and the joy one ought to get out of life enlarge and deepen ones existence. And then I begin to feel, away down inside of me, a longing for pleasure, and as if I could reach out and grasp all sorts of of things, just for my own enjoyment.
And that makes you feel dreadfully wicked! Isabellas laugh tinkled through the room, a lighter, merrier sound than her sisters. Dear me! As if we didnt all feel that way once in a while!
You never do, Henrietta interrupted.
Dont inquire too deeply into my feelings, unless you want to be shocked. Suppose we have some hot toast to cheer us up after this awful confession. Delia, to the maid who entered in response to her ring, have you some fresh toast ready?
The toast is awfully good this morning, Delia, said Henrietta smiling at her. Its always nice, but its particularly good, exactly right, this morning.
Thank you, Harry! said Isabella as the maid disappeared. Im so glad you said it. Maybe it will make her feel better. Did you see that determined, dare-and-die look on her face? Im sure somethings going to happen!
And weve raised her wages twice already, the other exclaimed, as her face took on the same anxious expression that had just clouded her sisters.
Yes, and we cant pay her any more than were giving her now. She isnt worth it and we couldnt afford it if she were.
Just as weve begun to feel sure she was satisfied and would stay. Oh, Bella! Its too bad! But maybe its no worse than it was the last time we got scared, when her cousin was married and she wanted a day off. You remember, she had two days of the introspective mood then.
Thank you, Delia! Its done to a turn! and Isabella smiled sweetly at the returning maid, who retreated a step and stood still, fumbling her tray, an embarrassed, determined look upon her face.
Its perfectly lovely, chimed in Henrietta with enthusiasm.
The girl shuffled from one foot to the other but her expression did not relax. Isabella cast an I-told-you-so look at her sister and glanced expectantly at the maid.
What is it, Delia?
Im thinkin, Miss Marne, youd better be lookin for a new girl.
Why, whats the matter? You dont want to leave us, do you?
No, miss, I dont want to, an thats the truth. But I dont think Ill be stayin any longer than you can get another girl.
Whats the trouble, Delia?
Its lonesomeness, Miss Marne. Its that respectable out here that theres niver a policeman comes along this street for days at a time. An the milkman comes around that early I niver see him, an anyway hes elderly an the father of four. An its so high-toned, there aint a livery stable anywhere, an so theres none of them boys to pass a word with once in a while. An theres only the postman, an him small and married.
There was silence for a moment while the maid shuffled her feet and turned her tray about and the sisters bit their lips. Then Isabella exclaimed, in a tone of brisk sympathy:
Yes, Delia, I understand how you feel, and I dont blame you at all, but
Dont make up your mind right away, Delia, Henrietta broke in. Think about it a little longer. Maybe something will happen.
And only think, Harry, Isabella groaned, as Delia left the room, what a wonderful bargain that real estate agent made us think we were getting, just because there were so many restrictions there could never be anything or anybody objectionable within a mile of us!
I had an inspiration just in the nick of time, Henrietta replied. Mrs. Fenlow told me, when she was in the office the other day, waiting for Mr. Brand, that she is going to move her garage to this end of her property, which you know is just a block away, with an entrance from this street she hoped it wouldnt annoy us and she said she was going to have a new chauffeur. And we can hope, Bella, that hell be young and tall and handsome and inclined to be flirtatious with good-looking maids who sometimes work in front door-yards nearby. Why, heres Billikins! You naughty doggie, where have you been?
A white fox terrier had bounded into the room and was giving her exuberant greeting, having stopped first to drop at her feet a rag-doll that he carried in his mouth. There, that will do, she laughed as he sprang to her lap, and thence to her shoulder and testified his overflowing affection with voice and tongue. Get down now and take care of your babykins!
I must go now, she declared, and, rising, began putting on hat and coat. Ill just run upstairs and kiss mother good-bye again. If anything should happen, Bella, or should you want me to come home for any reason, you can phone me at the office until five oclock, and after that at Dr. Annisters. Mrs. Annister, you know, is going to chaperon Mildred and me. Wasnt it sweet of her to ask me to stay all night with them!
Five minutes later she came hurrying downstairs again, and Isabella, waiting for her at the front door, put the suitcase into her hand, pressed an arm about her waist, and gave her a farewell greeting.
Have just as good a time as you can, Harry, dear, she said gaily, so youll have all the more to tell mother and me tomorrow night!