“I’d like to go over and see the house,” said Mrs. Mortimer, at last. “I really think you young people have done wonders.”
“Oh, we didn’t do it all,” said Midget. “Mrs. Adams and half a dozen other ladies have been working all the morning, too. And Mrs. Spencer sent a lot of lovely things. Why, the house is ’most full of furniture.”
“I never heard of such a town,” said Mrs. Mortimer, laughing. “I think, James, it would be a fine place to live.”
“Yes,” Mr. Mortimer agreed; “if you’re sure to be burned out of house and home.”
The village people did, indeed, prove themselves generous. In the afternoon the enthusiasm spread to such an extent, that curtains were being put to the windows, and kerosene poured into the lamps. Some of the more impetuous ones wanted to move the family in that night, but it was deemed better to wait until Monday. Marjorie was allowed to tell Mrs. Simpson what had been done for her.
“My gracious land!” exclaimed the poor woman. “I can’t take it in, Miss Marjorie! A whole house! all furnished—for me? Oh, it’s too much! You’re too good! I don’t deserve it.”
“It’s because we’re so sorry for you, Mrs. Simpson,” said Midget. “Mr. Simpson has been in the hospital so long, I wonder how you ever got along at all. But now, with this house for a start, you can manage, can’t you?”
“Oh, yes, Miss Marjorie; I’m thinkin’ Sam can get a job of some sort this spring. And I can do washin’ now, for Hannah can mind the babies. Oh, Miss Marjorie, it’s too good you are! You’re just like your father and your dear mother.”
And then, for the first time since the fire, Marjorie felt an absolutely clear conscience. She realized that she hadn’t done wrong—at least, not intentionally; and though the circumstances had greatly annoyed Miss Larkin, and had disturbed one of her guests, yet now, the whole affair had turned out all right.
Indeed, the matter was practically taken out of Marjorie’s hands; and though the Jinks Club did their full share of assisting, it was the grown-up citizens of Rockwell who escorted Mrs. Simpson and her children to their new home on Monday.