“Society life,” answered Leslie, “as
it is lived by people of wealth who are aping royalty
and the titled classes.”
“A branch of them—possibly,”
conceded Douglas. “I know some titled and
wealthy people who would be dumbfounded over that woman’s
ideas.”
“So do I,” said Leslie. “Of
course there are exceptions. Sometimes the exception
becomes bigger than the rule, but not in our richest
society. Douglas, let’s keep close together!
Oh don’t let’s ever drift into such a
state as that. I should have asked them to lunch,
but I couldn’t. If that is the way she
is talking before her friends, surely she won’t
have many, soon.”
“Then her need for a real woman like you will
be all the greater,” answered Douglas.
“I suppose you should have asked her; but I’m
delighted that you didn’t! To-day began
so nearly perfect, I want to end it with only you
and your father. Will he resent me, Leslie?”
“It all depends on us. If we are selfish
and leave him alone he will feel it. If we can
make him realize gain instead of loss he will be happier
than he is now.”
“I wish I hadn’t felt obliged to reject
his offer the other night. I’m very sorry
about it.”
“I’m not,” said Leslie. “You
have a right to live your life in your own way.
I have seen enough of running for office, elections
and appointments that I hate it. You do the work
you educated yourself for and I’ll help you.”
“Then my success is assured,” laughed
Douglas. “Leslie, may I leave my basket
here? Will you care for it like yours, and may
I come to see it often?”
“No. You may come to see me and look at
the basket incidentally,” she answered.
“Do you think Mrs. Minturn will go to the swamp
to listen to those birds?” he asked.
“Eventually she will,” answered the girl.
“I may have to begin by taking her to an orchard
to hear a bird of gold sing a golden song about ’sewing,
and mending, and baby tending,’ to start on;
but when she hears that, she will be eager for more.”
“How interesting!” cried Douglas. “‘Bearer
of Morning,’ sing that song to me now.”
Leslie whistled the air, beating time with her hand,
then sang the words:
“I can wash, sir, I can spin, sir, I can
sew and mend, and babies tend.”
“Oh you ‘Bringer of Song!’”
exulted Douglas. “I’d rather hear
you sing that than any bird, but from what she said,
Nellie Minturn won’t care particularly for it!”
“She may not approve of, or practise, the sentiment,”
said Leslie, “but she’ll love the music
and possibly the musician.”
Little Brother
“Now what am I going to do yet to make the day
shorter, Lily?” asked Mickey.
“I guess I got everything,” she answered.
“There’s my lunch. Here’s my
pictures to cut. Here’s my lesson to learn.
There’s my sky and bird crumbs. Mickey,
sometimes they hop right in on the sheet. Yest’day
one tried to get my lunch. Ain’t they sassy?”
