As she spoke she turned her bicycle and walked down the long avenue by the little woman’s side.
“This is a powerful big place,” said Mrs. Ives.
“It is,” answered Barbara.
“Your husband must be a rich man.”
“He is, very.”
“Now, I wonder has you any other places to call your own?”
“I believe we have several.”
“Dear heart! it seems too much for a young couple. You’ll be wore out with the responsibility of ’em, my deary. You’d ha’ done a deal better to pray the prayer of Agar and be satisfied with what he asked the Almighty for.”
“I don’t remember what he wanted at this moment,” replied Barbara with a smile.
“Oh, my word! you ain’t been brought up proper on your Bible. ‘Give me neither poverty nor riches,’ was Agar’s cry, ‘and feed me with food convenient for me.’ I often thought how beautiful was his words, and when I sees the rich and great of the earth I says to mysel’, ‘Well, they’re not Agars.’ They might ha’ been Agars if they liked and gave away some of their property to feed the starving, but they didn’t like it and they ain’t got the blessing. My deary, I’d like well to see that husband of yours.”