“I have been out. Mother was so anxious about the election that I promised her I would see Mrs. Black and some of the others this very day. I have been calling on them.”
“Have, hey? Well, what's the prospect? The cause of right and Black, and justice and Dott is goin' to prevail, I presume likely, isn't it?”
“I don't know. I couldn't find out anything. Mrs. Black was not in, at least that is what the maid said; but I am almost sure she was in. I think I saw her peeping between the curtains as I went down the steps.”
“That so? Perhaps she was dosin' you with the same medicine I handed her when she called that first day after Serena was taken down.”
“I thought of that. But I called on three other leaders of Mother's party—”
“Yours and your mother's, you mean?”
“Yes, of course. I called on three of our leaders. Two of them were in and I talked with them. I could learn nothing from either about the election. They would not discuss it, except to say that everything would be all right. They behaved so oddly and were so embarrassed. It was perfectly obvious that they wanted to get rid of me. I can't understand it.”
“There's lots of things we can't understand in this world. Don't fret your mother about it.”
“I shan't, of course. But what is troubling you, Daddy? Something, I know.”
“Look that way, do I? My looks don't belie me, then. See here, Gertie, I'm stumped. I've been goin' over back bills and the bankbook and the checkbook and—and—well, I'm on my beam ends, that's where I am.”