Again the irrepressible laughter of the señor burst forth as he said:
“Well, you are not sorry you came?”
“Oh, no! But, goodness, child, think of it! I, who had lived nigh seventy years in this world without ever going more than fifty miles from home, and that only once in my life, to be asked all of a sudden to go to Europe next day!”
“It was startling!” said Lilith, smiling.
“Startling! And then to hear him talk. Why, to hear him you would think to go from New York to Havre was no more than to row across a river. Then he got my boarders on his side. I think they thought it was fun. And they all got me in such a whirl that I hardly knowed whether I was awake or asleep. And before I rightly knowed what I was about I was on the steamer and out of sight of land!”
“I hope you left them all well at your house,” said Lilith.
“Oh, yes, honey, all mons’ous well. Mrs. Farquier is going to be married to Elder Perkins, of our church. I believe I told you in my letter.”
“Yes, you did.”
“Well, child, he is rich—awful rich. And they are to be married next spring. He is a building of a fine new house way up town, facing on the Park, and soon as it’s finished and furnished they’re going to be married and move right in. She’s giv’ up her employment, and hasn’t got much to do; so she offered if I would only go along of this young gentleman to Europe, how she would keep house for me until I come back. She is a dear, good woman and deserves all the prosperity she will have.”
“So you need have no anxious cares about the house,” said Lilith.