Ray, in the background waiting for a chance to carry off her aunt and minister to her comfort, felt her face rippling into laughter as she recalled a remark of her mother’s, made several years before: “If Evarts ever said anything he would be worth listening to, he has so many words at his command.”
It would have been hard to find two people more unlike in every respect than were Evarts Forman and his sister Elsie. He was above medium height, straight as an arrow and well proportioned; he wore his clothes with the air of one who knew they were faultless, and gave one the impression of being always at ease, knowing to a fraction what ought to be said or done next. His sister was much below the average height of women, and was used to being described by her sister Caroline as “dumpy.” She had scant gray hair unbecomingly arranged, and although her blue eyes must once have been bright they had faded and were growing dim. Her dress was plain to severity, and was unmistakably the work of a country dressmaker. As for her conversational powers, on this day at least, she seemed to have almost no words; but, after all, that was not strange when her brother Evarts was present to furnish volumes.
In the privacy of Jean’s room that evening her disrespectful nephew expressed his opinion to his boon companion.
“Isn’t she just about the homeliest critter you ever looked at? Turned-up nose, and no eyes to speak of, and the oddest little wad of gray hair perked on top of her head. I can’t imagine how she and Aunt Caroline ever came to be sisters.”
“She is mortally homely,” Jean agreed. “But then she isn’t the least bit like Aunt Caroline in other ways, and I’m sure that is a comfort. I can see why she didn’t plan to go and live with her, can’t you? Aunt Caroline would simply crush her!”
“She would sit down on her, all right; you can bet your life on that. If it weren’t for having her around all the time spoiling everything, a fellow could be almost glad that she is to have mother, instead of a woman like Aunt Caroline; mother will be lovely to her.”
Jean sighed. “Yes, and so will Ray. I don’t see why people who belong to the same family are so different; there are regular sets of us; mother and Ray make one set and you and Florence and I the other.”
“Father doesn’t belong to the family, I suppose!” Derrick chuckled. Jean joined the laugh, then grew suddenly serious.
“Father doesn’t belong to the sets,” she said. “He is all by himself; he tries, but he doesn’t rise above things as mother and Ray do. I suppose it is because responsibilities rest heavier on him. Dick, what is going to become of us all, anyhow? Can’t you see that things are growing harder all while? I’m just afraid that by the time you and I get ready to take hold there won’t be any father to help.”
“Don’t croak!” said Derrick, in a changed and as cross a tone as he ever used to this favorite sister. He left her at once, but did not whistle as he went down stairs, nor for a full half-hour afterwards.