“Oh, no,” said Julia Cloud quickly, the pretty flush coming in her cheeks. “Everything was bought new except a few little bits of mahogany down-stairs. We had such fun choosing it, too. Don’t you like my furniture? I love it. I hovered around it again and again; but I didn’t dream of having it in my room, it was so expensive. It’s real French enamel, you know, and happens to be a craze of fashion at present. I thought it was ridiculous to buy it, but Leslie insisted that it was the only thing for my room; and those crazy, extravagant children went and bought it when I had my head turned.”
“You don’t say!” said Ellen Robinson, putting a hard, investigating finger on the foot-board. “Well, it does seem sort of smooth. But I never thought my cane-seat chairs were much. Guess I’ll have to get ’em out and varnish ’em. What’s that out there, a porch?”
Julia Cloud led her out to the upper porch with its rush rugs, willow chairs, and table, and its stone wall crowned with blooming plants and trailing vines. She showed her the bird’s nest in the tree overhead.
“Well,” said Ellen half sourly, “I suppose there’s no chance of your getting sick of it all and coming back, and I must say I don’t blame you. It certainly is a contrast from the way you’ve lived up to now. But these children will grow up and get married, and then where will you be? I suppose you have chances here of getting married, haven’t you?”
The color flamed into Julia Cloud’s cheeks in good earnest now.
“I’m not looking for such chances, Ellen,” she said decidedly. “I don’t intend ever to marry. I’m happier as I am.”
“Yes, but after these children are married what’ll you do? Who’ll support you?”
“Don’t let that worry you, Ellen, There are other children, and I love to mother them. But as far as support is concerned I’m putting away money in the bank constantly, more than I ever expected to have all together in life; and I shall not trouble anybody for support. However, I hope to be able to work for a good many years yet, and what I’m doing now I love. Shall we go down-stairs?”