Elizabeth smiled and shook her head. “Tell me what my life is like?”
There was a pause, during which Katie considered.
“You have a quiet life, and you are a comfort to your father, and everybody loves you.”
“I am afraid there are some people who do not love me much. As to my father, yes. I shall never be quite a useless person while he needs me. But as to my life being a happy life—”
“You have leisure,” said Katie after a little, “and you take pleasure in so many things—things going on far away, and that happened long ago. And you care for books, and you understand people. And you believe in great principles of action, and you are not afraid. I cannot say just what I mean.”
“But, Katie, all that is as true of you as it is of me, except perhaps the leisure.”
“I am only a child almost,” said Katie, with a little rising colour. “But when I am a woman I should like my life to be just like yours.”
There was silence for a minute or two, then Katie went on:
“I once heard Mr Burnet tell my grandfather that you did more by the real interest you take in everything that is good and right, and by your bright, unselfish ways, to keep up a healthy, happy state of things among the young people of the place, than even the minister’s preaching. That was in old Mr Hollister’s time, however,” added the truth-loving Katie reflectively.
Miss Elizabeth smiled. “Mr Burnet is partial in his judgment.”