“I suppose that’s so, too. It’s always foolish to do work that you don’t need to do—I mean that can be done in some easier way. If your time’s worth anything at all, you can find some better use for it.”
“That’s what I say! It would be foolish and wasteful to set a hundred men to digging when one steam shovel will do the work better and quicker than they can. And it’s the same way with this water here. If we can put up a pipe in about an hour that will save two or three hours of chasing every day, whenever water is needed, it must be sensible to do it.”
They got the water down without any mishap, however, and it was eagerly welcomed.
“It’s good water,” said Margery. “But not as good as the water at Long Lake and in the mountains.”
“That’s the best water in the world, Margery,” said Eleanor. “This is cold, though, and it’s perfectly healthy. And, after all, that is as much as we can expect. Are you and Bessie going for a walk, Dolly?”
“We thought we would, if you don’t mind.”
“I don’t mind, of course. But don’t go very far. Stay near enough so that you can hear if we call, or for us to hear you if you should happen to call to us.”
Dolly looked startled.
“Why should we want to call you?” she asked.
“No reason that I can think of now, Dolly. But—well, I suppose I’m nervous. The way they tried to get hold of Bessie and Zara at Canton to-day makes me feel that we’ve got to be very careful. And there is no use taking unnecessary chances.”