Mrs. Jenks-Smith, who has formed a sincere attachment to Lavinia
Cortright, did all in her power to persuade her to be her neighbour up in
town, offering a charming house at a bargain and many advantages.
Finally becoming piqued at the refusal, she said:--
"Why will you be so stupid? Don't you know that this out-of-the-way
street is in the social desert?"
"It may be in a desert, as you say," said Lavinia, gently, "but we mean
at least to make it an oasis for our friends who are weary of the
whirling of the pool."
* * * * *
We stood looking at the boys as they slept tonight. Strange thoughts will
crop up at times most unexpectedly. Horns blowing on the highway
proclaimed the late arrival of a coaching party at the Bluffs. "Would you
like to have money if you could, and go about the world when and where
you please?" I asked Evan, but he, shaking his head, drew me towards him,
answering my question with another--
"Would you, or why do you ask?"
I never thought that Mrs. Jenks-Smith's stricture would turn to a
prayer upon my lips, but before I knew it I whispered, "God keep us
comfortably poor."
Then Ian, feeling our presence, raised himself in sleepy leisure, and
nestling his cheek against my dress said, "Barbara, _please_ give Ian a
drink of water."
***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PEOPLE OF THE WHIRLPOOL ***
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