“You want something to employ your time——” began Mrs. Force.
“You bet!” interjected her guest.
“Well, then, suppose you let me teach you how to do this silk embroidery. It is beautiful and attractive fancywork, and very easy to learn,” said Mrs. Force, holding out her frame, on which was stretched the half-finished cover of a foot cushion.
“What! that rubbish?” disdainfully inquired the Wild Cats’ lady. “No, thanky’! You can buy a great deal prettier things than that in any of the fancy stores for less money than the things cost to make it with, let alone the lost time! No, ma’am! If I must waste all the days of my life, let it be in honest, barefaced idleness, like I’m a-doing of now, and not in pretending to work—playing at work, like you ladies here! I beg all your pardons! I never meant no offense, but I’m bound to tell the truth!”
“No offense is taken; but we think our handiwork is a little more real, fine, delicate and substantial than the machine work sold in shops,” replied Mrs. Force, in some delicate, deprecating defense of her embroidery.
Before Mrs. Anglesea could reply, the door was opened by Mr. Force, who had just come in from his daily ride around his plantation.
He greeted all the ladies present, and the conversation became general.
A little later on, Leonidas and the girls came in from their walk, and the family party separated to get ready for dinner, and at the usual hour met again around the table.