“But it has excellent railway facilities!” she laughed.
“Because it happens to be on the main line between Washington and the North.”
“At least, the people are nice, barring a few mushrooms who are making a great to-do.”
“Yes, the people are delightful!—And, when it comes to mushrooms, Northumberland has Baltimore beaten to a frazzle. We raise a fresh crop every night.”
“Northumberland society must be exceedingly large!” she laughed.
“It is—but it’s not overcrowded. About as many die every day, as are born every night; and, at any rate, they don’t interfere with those who really belong—except to increase prices, and the cost of living, and clog the avenue with automobiles.”
“That is progress!”
“Yes, it’s progress! but whither it leads no one knows—to the devil, likely—or a lemon garden.” 190
“‘Blessed are the lemons on earth, for they shall be peaches in Heaven!’” she quoted.
“What a glorious peach your Miss Erskine will be,” he replied.