“Yes, I know it would, and am not surprised that you hesitate. But you could get so large an order completed for the whole at much less cost than the people could individually; and if you undertake the furnishing as well as the building of these houses, you will be doing it all very completely, and can fairly make better terms for the people than they could for themselves. Many of the better class of workmen have made their homes comfortable, and will probably prefer to take their furniture with them. It is the very poor who would be helped. If I may, I would suggest that those who have goods to sell should prepare a list of them, and then arrange to have them sold at public auction. There will be plenty of buyers among the poor who are to be left behind if the things are sold cheaply, as, of course, they must be, and then whatever they fetch, after paying expenses, might be put down to the credit of the persons who were owners of the goods.”
“Yes; some arrangement of the kind can no doubt be made. We will do the best we can.”
“Thank you. I was sure you would. I often try to picture their delight when they are really settled in their new homes, with their friends about them, and so much of joy and comfort which they never expected added to their lot.”
“It will be good to know that they all start comfortably in their new homes. You have taken a great interest in them. I hope they will repay your kindness.”
“They have done that already. They need to be carefully dealt with; they must not be demoralised with gifts, but helped to make themselves comfortable by their own earnings, and then they will be all right. I am delighted with the change in the Paradise boys and girls.”
“Yes, so am I. You have dealt wisely with them, and gone far to prove what an educated woman can do among those who, notwithstanding our so-called system of education, are deplorably ignorant. I suppose you had no idea, when you were graduating at the University, that you would spend these months in slum-work.”
“No, indeed, I had not,” she said, and suddenly stopped, and looked at Arthur Knight in amazement. “Why do you suppose that I have had a University training?”
“I have heard so.”
“But who could have told you? No one knows anything about me.”
“Pardon me, Miss Wythburn. I was at Scourby yesterday, and I spent last night at Mrs. Whitwell’s house near Darentdale. Your friend, Miss Tom Whitwell, showed me your portrait. I had mentioned the Paradise grove Basket Woman, and she cleverly jumped to the conclusion that you are yourself.”