But Quincy declined, and requesting his aunt to say good-by
to the young ladies for him, he entered the carriage and was driven off.
After luncheon, which was served in the dining-room, General Chessman
and Aides-de-Camp Pettengill and Very held a counsel of war in the
General's private tent. It was decided that the mornings should be
devoted, for a while, at least, to shopping and visiting modistes and
milliners. Miss Very was also to give some of her time to visits to the
libraries and the second-hand bookstores looking for books that would be
of value to Alice in her work. The afternoons were to be passed in
conversation and in listening to Miss Very's reading from the books that
she had purchased or taken from the libraries. The evenings were to be
filled up with music, and the first one disclosed the pleasing fact
that Miss Very had a rich, full contralto voice that had been well
cultivated and that she could play Beethoven or the songs of the day
with equal facility.
While the feminine trio were thus enjoying themselves in Boston with an
admixture of work and play, Quincy was busily engaged at Nantucket in
building a nest for them, as he called it.
Pages:
601
602
603
604
605
606
607
608
609
610
611
612
613
614
615
616
617
618
619
620
621
622
623
624
625