He waited for an instant, and then shouted with an air of triumph:
"I've founded a prize, my boy--a stroke of genius. I've called it by
your name. 'The de Gex Prize for Housewives.' I didn't bother you about
it as I knew you were in a world of worry. But just think of it.
An annual prize of thirty pounds--practically the interest--for
housewives!"
His eyes flashed in his enthusiasm; he brought his heavy hand down on my
knee.
"Well?" I asked, not electrified by this announcement.
"Don't you see?" he exclaimed. "I throw the competition open to the
women in the district, with certain qualifications, you know--I look
after all that. They enter their names by a given date and then they
start fair. The woman who keeps her home tidiest and her children
cleanest collars the prize. Isn't it splendid?"
I agreed. "How many competitors?"
"Forty-three. And there they are working away, sweeping their floors and
putting up clean curtains and scrubbing their children's noses till they
shine like rubies and making their homes like little Dutch pictures.
Pages:
346
347
348
349
350
351
352
353
354
355
356
357
358
359
360
361
362
363
364
365
366
367
368
369
370