“Don’t mention it. This is a very early call; but coming into a furnished house is so different from an empty one,—you get settled in a few hours; besides, I knew this was your first experience of housekeeping, and if one wants to be of real use it is of no use to leave it till your difficulties are over.”
The lady had followed Molly into the parlor as she spoke, and seated herself in the rocking-chair.
“You are very kind,” said Molly, thinking how very friendly it was.
“I mean to be kind, my dear. I know the difficulties of inexperienced young housekeepers, and I want you to know that your nearest neighbor is ready to run right in any time you want, and if there’s anything I can tell you, why, you know where to come.”
“Thank you very much indeed,” said Molly gratefully; “I shall not forget.”
The conversation now drifted off into talk about Greenfield, and Molly learned the names of most of her near neighbors, and, it must be confessed, more of their peculiarities than she cared to hear.
“I’m your nearest neighbor on this side the street, but there’s poor Mrs. Lennox right opposite, poor thing! I’m glad she’s got some one to take Mrs. Winfield’s place to her. She was a real good neighbor, and when one’s life’s as hard as hers, a friendly neighbor is a good deal.”
Molly did not ask why Mrs. Lennox was qualified by the adjective “poor” nor why her life was hard. She began to recognize in Mrs. Merit a type of good-hearted women given over-much to interesting themselves in other people’s affairs. Mrs. Merit rocked serenely on, however, and proceeded to question Molly on her knowledge of housekeeping and to give some strong hints on economy.
“You see, my dear, young people start off with an idea of style, and it takes them some time to find out the best and cheapest way of doing things, and there’s receipts I’ve got that I’ve altered and changed so’s they don’t cost half, and taste, to my thinking, just as well, and no danger of dyspepsia, and I’d be glad to send you over my written book.”
Again Molly thanked her, and promised to avail herself of the book.