“You think so, Mrs. Smith; but others are of a different opinion.”
Mrs. Smith, for the first time, felt rebuffed, and answered, meekly,
“You were asking about Smith. He’s been a-doing very well—very well, indeed; in the grocery line, though. You can see our store from the front yard here.”
Mrs. Carter leaned out of the window, and took a survey of her friend’s place of business, which had a respectable show of prosperity.
“That looks like living,” she said; “and I’m right down glad of it.”
“We live over the store, snug and comfortable,” answered Mrs. Smith, highly pleased.
“Children all alive?” inquired Mrs. Carter, with hesitation.
“Alive and hearty, thank goodness!”
Mrs. Carter heaved a deep sigh. “Smith,” she said, “I should like to take a look at your young ones. I’m not used to seeing children, in these days, crowding the doors by dozens, as they did in our old neighborhood, where Smith and Carter were such friends, and you and I—— Well, never mind about that. I haven’t forgotten it. Wait a minute, I’m going home with you. Good-bye, little girl. Don’t she look like a lily, lying there?”
“She’s got a lovely color,” answered Mrs. Smith. “I never saw the like of it on her cheek before. But where is Mrs. Laurence? Always at work? Mrs. Laurence, I say! My friend, Mrs. Carter, is going.”