Miss Reed: “Did you ever believe it?”
Miss Spaulding: “Never.”
Miss Reed: “Why?”
Miss Spaulding, thoughtfully regarding a vase which she holds in her hand, after several times shifting it from a bracket to the corner of her piano and back: “I wish I could tell where you do look best!”
Miss Reed, leaning forward wistfully, with her hands clasped and resting on her knees: “I wish you would tell me why you don’t believe you’re the best friend I have in the world.”
Miss Spaulding, finally placing the vase on the bracket: “Because you’ve said so too often.”
Miss Reed: “Oh, that’s no reason! I can prove to you that you are. Who else but you would have taken in a homeless and friendless creature like me, and let her stay bothering round in demoralizing idleness, while you were seriously teaching the young idea how to drub the piano?”
Miss Spaulding: “Anybody who wanted a room-mate as much as I did, and could have found one willing to pay more than her share of the lodging.”
Miss Reed, thoughtfully: “Do you think so, Henrietta?”
Miss Spaulding: “I know so.”