“I think I have just shown a truly vivid imagination.”
“It is the business of imagination to build up a world of loveliness and order.”
“I don’t agree with you. I think it is the business of imagination to project things as they really are. I don’t want to slip out from under reality and see only beauty. Beware, Madeline, or you will degenerate into a mere optimist.”
“Isn’t it funny that if your opponent can call you an optimist, he feels that he has delivered a knock-down blow to all your arguments?” Mrs. Lenox suddenly pulled herself together and turned toward Lena, who sat silently drinking her tea and taking no part in the conversation.
“Did you tell me that your mother is an invalid, Miss Quincy?”
“Not exactly; but she can’t go about much. It seems to play her out to walk.”
“It must be very hard on her to stay in the house all the time. I wonder if I might take her to drive with me once in a while?” A scarlet flush passed over Lena’s face at the very idea of her mother’s querulous vulgarity being displayed to this woman, and Mrs. Lenox could not help seeing her embarrassment.
A little wave of pity swept over the older woman. It must be a cruel fate to be ashamed of one’s surroundings. Mrs. Lenox herself was one of those serious-minded persons who regard their opportunities as responsibilities. She waged constant warfare with the dominion of externals, and believed with all her heart that the life was more than raiment; but a momentary doubt assailed her as to whether, after all, it might not be easier to conquer things when one owned them, rather than when one had to do without them. It has generally been Dives who is represented as enslaved by the goods of this world. Perhaps Lazarus, if his heart is absorbed in sordid longing for what others have and he has not, stands just as poor a chance of the kingdom of Heaven.
What could she do to make Miss Quincy feel at ease? The girl certainly had brains and character. Dick had told them of her brave bearing of burdens. This stiff back and this silence were but the tribute of shyness to new surroundings. So ran Mrs. Lenox’s swift thoughts and she set herself to make Lena talk about the things with which she was familiar, to link her past to this present.
Evidently the same thought was flitting through Madeline’s brain, for before Mrs. Lenox spoke she began: