Barbara explained the relief to the mother and the good to the child.
“It seems to me,” remarked Mrs. Bellows, “that a Kretch is about as necessary here as two tails to a cat. If there’s a death or sickness in the family, I send the children over to Lib’s. Otherwise, I’d rather have them at home. They gad enough as it is.”
“Do you mean that the mothers are to take turns in taking care of all the children in town?” asked Mrs. Penfold.
“My goodness!” murmured Mrs. Enderby.
“It saves the children from the moving-picture shows and the cheap theatres that are among the most pernicious of evil influences,” said Barbara. “It keeps them off the street and out of bad company”—
“Not if she lets that Charles attend,” whispered Mrs. Bellows to the woman in the next chair. “I’ve forbidden Sydney to play with him.”
“And gives the mothers a vacation. Instead of the care of their little ones every day, they have charge of them possibly two afternoons a summer.”
“I’d hate to trust my boys to Bertha Enderby,” whispered Mrs. Bellows again.