Nobody

"That's grandma all over!" exclaimed Charity; "but if she'sdisagreeable, I'll tell you what, girls, I'd rather scrub floors.'Tain't my vocation to do ugly folks good."

"Charity," said Mrs. Armadale, "it is your vocation. It is whateverybody is called to do."

"It's what you've been trying to do to me all my life, ain't it?" saidCharity, laughing. "But you've got to keep on, mother; it ain't doneyet. But I declare! there ought to be somebody in a house who can bedisagreeable by spells, or the rest of the world'd grow rampant."

CHAPTER XX

SHAMPUASHUH

It was in vain to try to talk of anything else; the conversation ran onthat one subject all the evening. Indeed, there was a great deal to bethought of and to be done, and it must of necessity be talked of first.

"How soon does she want to come?" Mrs. Armadale asked, meaning ofcourse the new inmate proposed for the house.

"Just as soon as we are ready for her; didn't you hear what I read, grandmother? She wants to get into the country air."

"A queer time to come into the country!" said Charity. "I thought cityfolks kept to the city in winter. But it's good for us."

"We must get in some coal for the parlour," remarked Madge.

"Yes; and who's going to make coal fires and clean the grate and fetchboxes of coal?" said Charity. "I don't mind makin' a wood fire, andkeepin' it up; wood's clean; but coals I do hate."

There was general silence.

"I'll do it," said Lois.

"I guess you will! You look like it."

"Somebody must; and I may as well as anybody."

"You could get Tim Bodson to carry coal for you," remarked Mrs.

Armadale.

"So we could; that's an excellent idea; and I don't mind the rest atall," said Lois. "I like to kindle fires. But maybe she'll want softcoal. I think it is likely. Mrs. Wishart never will burn hard coalwhere she sits. And soft coal is easier to manage."

"It's dirtier, though," said Charity. "I hope she ain't going to be afanciful woman. I can't get along with fancy folks. Then she'll be in afidget about her eating; and I can't stand that. I'll cook for her, butshe must take things as she finds them. I can't have anything to dowith tomfooleries."

"That means custards?" said Lois, laughing. "I like custards myself.

I'll take the tomfoolery part of the business, Charity."

"Will you?" said Charity. "What else?"

"I'll tell you what else, girls. We must have some new tablecloths, andsome napkins."

"And we ought to have our bonnets before anybody comes," added Madge.

"And I must make some covers and mats for the dressing table andwashstand in the best room," said Lois.

"Covers and mats! What for? What ails the things as they are? They'vegot covers."

"O, I mean white covers. They make the room look so much nicer."

"I'll tell you what, Lois; you can't do everything that rich folks do; and it's no use to try. And you may as well begin as you're goin' on.Where are you going to get money for coal and bonnets and tableclothsand napkins and curtains, before we begin to have the board paid in?"

"I have thought of that. Aunt Marx will lend us some. It won't be much, the whole of it."

"I hope we aren't buying a pig in a poke," said Charity.

"Mother, do you think it will worry you to have her?" Lois askedtenderly.

"No, child," said the old lady; "why should it worry me?"

So the thing was settled, and eager preparations immediately set onfoot. Simple preparations, which did not take much time. On her partMrs. Barclay had some to make, but hers were still more quicklydespatched; so that before November had run all its thirty days, shehad all ready for the move. Mr. Dillwyn went with her to the stationand put her into the car. They were early, so he took a seat beside herto bear her company during the minutes of waiting.

"I would gladly have gone with you, to see you safe there," heremarked; "but I thought it not best, for several reasons."

"I should think so!" Mrs. Barclay returned dryly. "Philip, I considerthis the very craziest scheme I ever had to do with!"

"Precisely; your being in it redeems it from that character."

"I do not think so. I am afraid you are preparing trouble for yourself; but your heart cannot be much in it yet!"

"Don't swear that," he said.

"Well, it cannot, surely. Love will grow on scant fare, I acknowledge; but it must have a little."

"It has had a little. But you are hardly to give it that name yet. Say,a fancy."

"Sensible men do not do such things for a fancy. Why, Philip, suppose Iam able to do my part, and that it succeeds to the full; though how Iam even to set about it I have at present no idea; I cannot assume thatthese young women are ignorant, and say I have come to give them aneducation! But suppose I find a way, and suppose I succeed; what then?You will be no nearer your aim – perhaps not so near."

"Perhaps not," he said carelessly.

"Phil, it's a very crazy business! I wouldn't go into it, only I am soselfish, and the plan is so magnificent for me."

"That is enough to recommend it. Now I want you to let me know, fromtime to time, what I can send you that will either tend to yourcomfort, or help the work we have in view. Will you?"

"But where are you going to be? I thought you were going to Europe?"

"Not till spring. I shall be in New York this winter."

"But you will not come to – what is the name of the place – where I amgoing?" she asked earnestly.

"No," said he, smiling. "Shall I send you a piano?"

"A piano! Is music intended to be in the programme? What should I dowith a piano?"

"That you would find out. But you are so fond of music – it would be acomfort, and I have no doubt it would be a help."