“Yes, it is nice, isn’t it, Harvey?” replied Martha Welcome. “I hadn’t noticed it before, I’ve been so busy with the washing.”
The woman’s voice, Mr. Grogan noted, held a note of sadness.
“Seems to me,” said Harvey, dropping his voice and speaking with the assurance of an old family friend, “that if I had two girls like your Elsie and Patience, I’d see that they helped out with the washing.”
“How can they help me?” replied Mrs. Welcome. “Patience is up early every morning and off to Mr. Price’s store and Elsie is at the mill all day.”
“That’s so,” said Harvey, “I didn’t think, but surely they might—”
“Oh, they help a lot,” broke in Mrs. Welcome, hurriedly. “They do all their ironing at night. And that’s all anyone could ask of them after they come home tired from their work.”
“Well, I’m glad to hear it. Your two girls always do look nice.”
“Thank you, Harvey.”
“But Mrs. Welcome—”
“Yes, Harvey?”