“I've always heard that was the safest place,” said she. “That was the way old Dr. Barnes always used to do. He had thirteen children; nine of 'em was girls. Whenever he saw a thunder-shower comin' up, he used to make Mis' Barnes an' the children go into the parlor, an' then they'd all set in the middle of the floor, an' he'd offer prayer. He used to say he'd do his part an' get in the safest place he knew of, an' then ask the Lord to help him. Mandy Pratt!”
“What say, Mis' Babcock?” returned Amanda, trembling.
“Have you got your hoop-skirt on?”
Amanda sprang up. “Yes, I have. I forgot it!”
“For the land sakes! I should think you'd thought of that, scared as you pretend to be in a thunder-shower. Do go in the bedroom an' drop it off this minute! Lois, you go with her.”
While Amanda and Lois were gone there was a slight lull in the storm.
“I guess it's kind of lettin' up,” said Mrs. Babcock. “This is a nice house you've got here, ain't it, Mis' Field?”
“Yes, 'tis,” replied Jane Field.
“I s'pose there was a good deal of nice furniture in it, wa'n't there?”
“Considerable.”