course they've got to live among folks, but they've got to beseparate for all; and keep their garments."
"I do not believe it is easy in a place like New York," said Lois.
"Seems to me I was getting all mixed up."
"'Tain't easy nowheres, child. Only, where the way is very smooth, folks slides quicker."
"How can one be 'separate' always, grandma, in the midst of otherpeople?"
"Take care that you keep nearest to God. Walk with him; and you'll bepretty sure to be separate from the most o' folks."
There was no more said. Lois presently closed the book and laid itaway, and the two sat in silence awhile. I will not affirm that Loisdid not feel something of a stricture round her, since she had giventhat promise so clearly. Truly the promise altered nothing, it onlymade things somewhat more tangible; and there floated now and then pastLois's mental vision an image of a handsome head, crowned with gracefullocks of luxuriant light brown hair, and a face of winningpleasantness, and eyes that looked eagerly into her eyes. It came upnow before her, this vision, with a certain sense of something lost.Not that she had ever reckoned that image as a thing won; as belonging,or ever possibly to belong, to herself; for Lois never had such athought for a moment. All the same came now the vision before her withthe commentary, – 'You never can have it. That acquain'tance, and thatfriendship, and that intercourse, is a thing of the past; and whateverfor another it might have led to, it could lead to nothing for you.' Itwas not a defined thought; rather a floating semi-consciousness; andLois presently rose up and went from thought to action.
CHAPTER IX
THE FAMILY
The spring day was fading into the dusk of evening, when feet andvoices heard outside announced that the travellers were returning. Andin they came, bringing a breeze of business and a number of tied-upparcels with them into the quiet house.
"The table ready! how good! and the fire. O, it's Lois! Lois ishere!" – and then there were warm embraces, and then the old grandmotherwas kissed. There were two girls, one tall, the other very tall.
"I'm tired to death!" said the former of these. "Charity would do noend of work; you know she is a steam-engine, and she had the steam upto-day, I can tell you. There's no saying how good supper will be; forour lunch wasn't much, and not good at that; and there's something goodhere, I can tell by my nose. Did you take care of the milk, Lois? youcouldn't know where to set it."
"There is no bread, Lois. I suppose you found out?" the other sistersaid.
"O, she's made biscuits!" said Madge. "Aren't you a brick, though,
Lois! I was expecting we'd have everything to do; and it's all done.
Ain't that what you call comfortable? Is the tea made? I'll be ready in a minute."
But that was easier said than done.
"Lois! what sort of hats are they wearing in New York?"
"Lois, are mantillas fashionable? The woman in New Haven, the milliner, said everybody was going to wear them. She wanted to make me get one."
"We can make a mantilla as well as she can," Lois answered.
"If we had the pattern! But is everybody wearing them in New York?"
"I think it must be early for mantillas."
"O, lined and wadded, of course. But is every body wearing them?"
"I do not know. I do not recollect."
"Not recollect!" cried the tall sister. "What are your eyes good for?
What do people wear?"
"I wore my coat and cape. I do not know very well about other people.
People wear different things."
"O, but that they do not, Lois!" the other sister exclaimed. "There isalways one thing that is the fashion; and that is the thing one wantsto know about. Last year it was visites. Now what is it this year? Andwhat are the hats like?"
"They are smaller."
"There! And that woman in New Haven said they were going to be largestill. Who is one to trust!"
"You may trust me," said Lois. "I am sure of so much. Moreover, thereis my new straw bonnet which Mrs. Wishart gave me; you can see by that."
This was very satisfactory; and talk ran on in the same line for sometime.
"And Lois, have you seen a great many people? At Mrs. Wishart's, Imean."
"Yes, plenty; at her house and at other houses."
"Was it great fun?" Madge asked.
"Sometimes. But indeed, yes; it was great fun generally, to see thedifferent ways of people, and the beautiful houses, and furniture, andpictures, and everything."
"Everything! Was everything beautiful?"
"No, not beautiful; but everything in most of the houses where I wentwas handsome; often it was magnificent."
"I suppose it seemed so to you," said Charity.
"Tell us, Lois!" urged the other sister.
"What do you think of solid silver dishes to hold the vegetables on thetable, and solid silver pudding dishes, and gold teaspoons, in the mostdelicate little painted cups?"
"I should say it was ridiculous," said the elder sister. "What's theuse o' havin' your vegetables in silver dishes?"
"What's the use of having them in dishes at all?" laughed Lois. "Theymight be served in big cabbage leaves; or in baskets."
"That's nonsense," said Charity. "Of course they must be in dishes ofsome sort; but vegetables don't taste any better out o' silver."
"The dinner does not taste any better," said Lois, "but it looks adeal better, I can tell you. You have just no idea, girls, howbeautiful a dinner table can be. The glass is beautiful; delicate, thin, clear glass, cut with elegant flowers and vines running over it.And the table linen is a pleasure to see, just the damask; it is sowhite, and so fine, and so smooth, and woven in such lovely designs.Mrs. Wishart is very fond of her table linen, and has it in beautifulpatterns. Then silver is always handsome. Then sometimes there is amost superb centre-piece to the table; a magnificent tall thing ofsilver – I don't know what to call it; not a vase, and not a dish; buthigh, and with different bowls or shells filled with flowers and fruit.Why the mere ice-creams sometimes were in all sorts of pretty flowerand fruit forms."
"Ice-cream!" cried Madge.
"And I say, what's the use of all that?" said Charity, who had not beenbaptized in character.
"The use is, its looking so very pretty," Lois answered.
"And so, I suppose you would like to have your vegetables in silverdishes? I should like to know why things are any better for lookingpretty, when all's done?"
"They are not better, I suppose," said Madge.
"I don't know why, but I think they must be," said Lois, innocent ofthe personal application which the other two were making.
