“Dr. Coles says not to let her know about Danny until it is a certainty—that there is no use in harrowing her soul if there is the slightest chance of his being alive.”
“Who is to tell her?” shuddered Elizabeth.
“I am,” said Irene.
“I don’t see how you can,” said Elizabeth. “It would be a job that I just wouldn’t know how to go about starting.”
“I am praying for strength and direction,” said Irene, whose religion was such a vital part of her that she spoke of it with a faith and simplicity that was often surprising to others.
“Well I’m glad the poor girl has plenty of money,” said Elizabeth. “I know money isn’t everything but it’s a good deal. Anyhow, it helps a lot to boost one over the rough places.”
“Maybe it does,” mused Josie, “But for my part, I’d like to see Mary Louise without a sou to her name. It would be good for the lamb to have to start in and make her living tomorrow. With her old grandfather gone and poor Danny reported missing, what pleasure will there be for her in that great house with not even a bit of dusting to do? Aunt Sally and Uncle Eben won’t let her do a lick of work about the house and Mary Louise is very capable. Just see how she pitched in and organized for war work. I guess she’ll have to go in for charity and then all of these boards and what not will bleed her to death. That kind of work is just a time-killer anyhow. What girls need is jobs—good, hard-working, paying jobs.”
“But what could Mary Louise do if she had to make a living?” laughed Elizabeth.
“Plenty of things!” declared Josie.