we'd looked the old house over together a dayor two, she couldn't seem to leave it, somehow, and she couldn't live init alone, and I always wanted it.
"So I said, 'If you'll just step over to the parson's, across thestreet, with me, we'll fix this all right in about ten minutes. You'veknown me ever since I was a boy, and I've known you, and it's nobody'sbusiness but ours if we want to finish up together.' I may have said afew other things, too, but that's neither here nor there. And when shesaid what would the girls do, I told her that what with the full priceof their interest in the farm, and her third that she could add toit--for a sort of wedding-present, you see--I didn't see but what youcould well afford to take a trip to Europe and stay about as long as youliked--she said you wanted to do that more than anything; though why Idon't know--Connecticut ought to be good enough for anybody!"
They sank upon the porch steps, sincerely overcome.
"I knew you'd like it when you came to know it all," said Aunt Juliaplacidly. "He's the kindest man--"
And to their excited eyes the very tidies on the geometrically arrangedchairs, the bright rag rugs on the floor, the biscuits and preservesconsecrated to their New England tea, yes, even the insistentshirt-sleeves of Cousin Lorando Bean, were lighted by a halo of content.
Julia The Apostate Page 4
