“Why do you say ‘thee’ instead of ‘you’?” she asked as her first remark.
“Because I am a Quaker, and we use the Friends’ speech.”
“What are Quakers?”
He smiled, and explained to her, and as he talked they swung between gates into a long tree-bordered drive that climbed and climbed until it reached a hill top; and here a low, rambling, many-roomed house spread itself pleasantly upon the earth. Some girls were raking leaves and waved to them as they passed. The fat horses stopped at the house. Mr. Benjamin got out and lifted out the trunk and bag. Just then the door opened and Mrs. Benjamin appeared.
“Phœbe, my dear, this is our new child, Isabelle Bryce,” he said.
Mrs. Benjamin bent and kissed her.
“Thee is very welcome, Isabelle,” she said, taking her hand and leading her indoors. A great, broad hall bisected the house. In the living room, to the right, a fire sparkled and crackled. The room gave out a feeling of friendliness. There were big chairs, student lamps, pleasant colours and shadows.
“I hope thee did not get chilled coming up the hill. There is a nip in the air these fall nights,” Mrs. Benjamin remarked.
“No, I wasn’t cold, thank you,” Isabelle replied. The last two words dragged themselves out in spite of her.
It was as difficult to hate Mrs. Benjamin as it was to hate Mr. Benjamin. And the warm big room was nice. But no—she wasn’t going to give in. She was a rebel and they should find her such!