"I never saw much difference. I thought we were all Christians."
"If you were to live a while in the house with that lady," said Tom darkly, "you'd find your mistake. What in all the world do you expect to do up there at Battersby?" he went on, turning to his friend.
"Live," said Philip. "In your world you only drag along existence. And we expect to work, which you never do. There is no real living without working, man. Try it, Tom."
"Cannot you work, as you call it, in town?"
"We want more free play, and more time, than town life allows one."
"Besides, the country is so much pleasanter," Lois added.
"But such a neighbourhood! you don't know the neighbourhood—but you do, Philip. You have no society, and Battersby is nothing but a manufacturing place—"
"Battersby is three and a half miles off; too far for its noise or its smoke to reach us; and we can get society, as much as we want, and what we want; and in such a place there is always a great deal that might be done."
The talk went on for some time; Mrs. Caruthers seeming amazed and mystified, Tom dissatisfied and critical. At last, being informed that their own quarters were ready, the later comers withdrew, after agreeing that they would all sup together.
"Tom," said Mrs. Caruthers presently, "whom did Mr. Dillwyn marry?"