Yardley." Then, with a
straightforward meeting of the other's eye calculated to disarm
whatever criticism the situation might evoke, she quietly added,
"You need no longer trouble yourself with serving me my meals in
my room. I will eat dinner in the public dining-room to-day with
the rest of the boarders. I have no further reason for concealing
who I am or what my future intentions are. I am going to live with
Judge Ostrander, Mrs. Yardley;--keep house for him, myself and
daughter. His man is dead and he feels very helpless. I hope that
I shall be able to make him comfortable."
Mrs. Yardley's face was a study. In all her life she had never
heard news that surprised her more. In fact, she was mentally
aghast. Judge Ostrander admitting any one into his home, and this
woman above all! Yet, why not? He, certainly, would have to have
some one. And this woman had always been known as a notable
housekeeper. In another moment, she had accepted the situation,
like the very sensible woman she was, and Mrs. Scoville had the
satisfaction of seeing the promise of real friendly support in the
smile with which Mrs. Yardley remarked:
"It's a good thing for you and a very good thing for the judge. It
may shake him out of his habit of seclusion. If it does, you will
be the city's benefactor. Good luck to you, madam. And you have a
daughter, you say?"
After Mrs. Yardley's departure, Mrs. Scoville, as she now expected
herself to be called, sat for a long time brooding.
Pages:
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116