(Starts for L., when Hel. enters.)
Hel. Mother, I have asked a young man to come over and take tea with us to-morrow. You don’t object, do you?
Susan. Young man? You mean that painter you’ve talked so much about in the last week or two, I s’pose?
Hel. Not painter, mother. He is an artist.
Susan. Well, ain’t a painter an artist? I call him a painter, an’ I don’t think he amounts to much, though I ain’t never set eyes on him.
Hel. (taking Susan’s face in her hands). Oh, mother, you will surely change your opinion when you see him once. He is just too sweet for anything. He is very wealthy, too, and I happen to know that he has more than an ordinary fondness for me.
Susan (disengaging herself from Hel.). All girls are alike at your age. Well, let him come, if he wants to. I was thinking of inviting the widow over to-morrow afternoon, so Miss Renwick would have company. Most likely she’ll find it rather lonesome here at first. Hick Homespun told your father he was coming over to look at the brindle cow which is for sale, to-morrow afternoon, so it will just come in fine. The widow has set her cap for Hick, an’ I’ve made up my mind to help her along all I can. Yes. Let the painter come over, an’ we’ll have a little party.
Hel. And we won’t say anything about it to father, or the boarder, mother. Let’s make it a surprise party, as far as they are concerned.
Susan. Very well, Helen. I was goin’ to tell your father, but if you want him surprised it’s all right.
Hel. Where is the new boarder, mother? I haven’t seen her yet.