“What?”
“I'm like soda to you. When you're sour a good spoonful of me makes you fizz and boil, but when you finish fizzing and boiling you are as sweet as honey. I take the sour out of your vinegar.”
“Yes, you do so,” said Susan, sighing. “That's why it is so hard on me to have to not like you. I wish you was a different sort of woman.”
“I am!” said Henrietta eagerly. “I am, and I mean to be. Try me! Let me have Lem!”
“Well, I'll think it over,” said Miss Susan. Henrietta was happier than she had been for years. She went from Miss Susan happily. If she could have Lem she would have a life-work—an opportunity to redeem what she had done in harm to Freeman, and she would have a shield against Johnnie Alberson, too. Twice that afternoon she spoke to Miss Susan.
“I ain't had time to think it over,” Miss Susan told her the first time. The second time Miss Susan said, “Well, I'm inclined. I'm more for than against, but I ain't quite sure yet. It looks like I would be.”
For Gay and Carter Bruce Henrietta had no more fears. She was even able to treat Johnnie Alberson with haughty calm when he came home that evening. At supper she questioned Miss Susan with her eyes as that tired but tireless woman waited on the table.
“I'm goin' to say 'yes,' if I don't change my mind,” Miss Susan whispered. “You see me before I go to bed.”
Henrietta was as happy as a young girl that evening, for she felt sure Miss Susan would give up Lem. She carefully avoided Johnnie Alberson, doing so by putting her arm around Lorna's waist and going across to Gay's. What might happen to Johnnie Alberson she did not care at that moment.
“Henrietta,” Lorna said, as they crossed the street, “do you know that Gay has had a letter from Carter Bruce? Carter says he is superintending a divorce. Do you know whose?”