Instantly on his
entrance the house began to rustle and whisper.
II
Mrs. Slater, although an amiable and kind-hearted human being who
believed with confident superstition in a God of other people's making,
did not, on the whole, welcome her lady friends with much cordiality. It
was not, as she often explained, as though she had her own house into
which to ask them. Her motto was, "Friendly with All, Familiar with
None," and to this she very faithfully held. But in her heart there was
reason enough for this caution; there had been days--yes, and nights
too--when, during her lamented husband's lifetime, she had "taken a
drop," taken it, obviously enough, as a comfort, and a solace when
things were going very hard with her, and "'Enery preferrin' 'er to be
jolly 'erself to keep 'im company." She had protested, but Fate and
Henry had been too strong for her. "She had fallen into the habit!"
Then, when No. 21 had come under her care, she had put it all sternly
behind her, but one did not know how weak one might be, and a kindly
friend might with her persuasion----
Therefore did Mrs.
Pages:
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172