“And so is the place, my dear Mrs. Dott,” she added. “A very charming, quaint old house. But—you'll excuse my saying so, won't you; you know Phelps and I have had some experience in keeping up a city estate—don't you think it might prove rather expensive for you to maintain?”
Serena's armor was not even dented. “Oh,” she said, lightly, “that wouldn't trouble us, I'm sure. Really, we've hardly thought of the expense. The Scarford place wasn't ALL that Aunt Lavinia left us, Mrs. Black.”
“Indeed!” rather feebly, “wasn't it?”
“My goodness, no! But there! I mustn't talk about ourselves and our affairs any more. Have you seen the lodge rooms to-day? I must find time to run down there this afternoon for a last look around. I want this open meeting to go off nicely. Who knows—well, I may not have the care of the next one.”
Azuba appeared in the doorway.
“The minister and his wife's comin',” she announced.
Mrs. Dott turned.
“The minister and his wife?” she repeated. “The bell hasn't rung, has it? How do you know they're coming here?”
“See 'em through the window,” replied Azuba, cheerfully. “They was at the gate quite a spell. She was gettin' her hat straight, and he was helpin' her. Here they be,” as the callers' footsteps sounded on the porch. “Shall I let 'em in?”
“Let them in! Why, of course! Why shouldn't you let them in?”