“Folks, help yourselves and help each other,” said Mrs. Blair.
Adam was ready for that. What a happy dinner! He ate with the relish of a desert man long used to sour dough and bacon, but he had keen ears for Mrs. Blair’s chatter and eyes for Genie and Eugene. The mother, too, had a steady and thoughtful gaze for the young couple, and her mind was apparently upon weightier matters than her speech indicated.
“Well, folks,” said Mrs. Blair, presently, “if you’ve all had enough, I’ll call the children.”
Eugene arose with alacrity. “Let’s go outdoors,” he said, stealing a shy look at Genie. She seemed to move in a trance. Adam went out, too, and found himself under the oaks. The very air was potent with the expectancy that Adam had sensed in the house. Something was about to happen. It puzzled him. Yet he liked the suspense. But he was nonplused. The young couple did not present a riddle. All the same, the instant Adam felt convinced of this he looked at them and lost his conviction. They did present a riddle. He had not seen any other lad and girl together for many years, but somehow he wagered to himself that if he had seen a thousand couples, this one would stand out strikingly.
Then Mrs. Blair appeared. She had the look of a woman to whom decision had come. The hospitality, the kindly interest in Genie, the happiness in seeing others made happy, were in abeyance to a strong, serious emotion.
“Mr. Wansfell, if you’ll consent I’ll give Genie a home here with me,” she said.
“Consent!... I—I gladly do that,” he replied, with strong agitation. “You are a—a good woman, Mrs. Blair. I am overwhelmed with gladness for Genie—for her luck.... It’s so sudden—so unexpected.”
“Some things happen that way,” she replied. “They just come about. I took to Genie right off. So did my boy. I asked him—when we got back from our neighbor’s—if it would not be a good idea to keep Genie. We are poor. It’s one more to feed and clothe. But she can help. And she’ll teach the children. That means a great deal to me and Gene.... He would be glad, he said. So I thought it over—and I’ve decided. We’ve your consent.... Now, Genie, will you stay and have a home with us?”
“Oh, I’ll—I’ll be so happy! I’ll try so—so hard!” faltered Genie.
“Then—it’s settled. My dear girl, we’ll try to make you happy,” declared Mrs. Blair, and, sitting beside Genie, she embraced her.