“But it must be quiet. And we’ll induce my father and mother to buy a place near by.”
“Your father’ll not give up the business.”
“I’ve thought it all out,” said Edna, whose mind was equal to whatever task she gave it. “You must get some one to offer him a price he simply can’t refuse, and make a condition that he shall not go into business again. Aren’t those things done?”
I was somewhat surprised, but not much, at the knowledge of business this displayed. “Why!—Why!” laughed I. “And you pretend to know nothing about business!”
She was in a sensible, loving mood that day. So she said with a quiet little laugh: “I make it a point to know anything that’s useful to me. I don’t know much about business. Why should I bother with it? I’ve got confidence in you.”
It was not the first time I had got a peep into her mind and had seen how she looked on everyone, including me, as a wheel in her machine, and never interfered unless the wheel didn’t work to suit her. I laughed delightedly. There was something charmingly feminine, thought I, about this point of view so upside down. “Yes, I guess your father’ll jump for the bait you suggest,” said I. “But why disturb him? He loves his undertaking.”
She shivered.
“And he’ll be miserable idling about.”
“Oh, I guess he’ll get along all right,” said she, with sarcasm and with truth. “He’ll devote himself to suing his tenants and counting his money.... Godfrey, you simply must get those people in Passaic out of our way. I’ve been a little nervous over here, though I knew that none of these dreadful people we associate with has anything better in the way of family than us, and some have a lot worse. Oh, it’s frightful to have parents one’s ashamed of!”
I think I blushed. I’m sure I looked away to avoid seeing her expression. “It’s frightful to be ashamed of one’s parents,” said I.