He has been with us so long; I can't let him go to strangers. Then I
shall turn out all those high-priced servants and get a woman to do general
housework. Alice says her aunt always gets green ones from an agency and
breaks them in. They are quite cheap. I shall help her, of course, and if
she doesn't know much about cooking I know a little and can learn more. I
shall shut up the big drawing-room, put everything into moth balls, and
give out that the doctor has ordered me to rest this winter, to go to bed
every night at eight. That will stop people coming up three or four times a
week to dance. And I can sell the new clothes I brought from Paris and New
York to Polly Roberts. She's just my height and weight. Of course I must
tell the girls the truth--that I'm economizing; but wild horses wouldn't
drag it out of them. I don't care tuppence, but Morty says it would hurt
his business. I rather like the idea of working. I'm tired of the old
round, and would like to get a job if Morty wasn't so opposed--says it
would ruin him."
"I should think so. At least let us wash our dirty linen at home....I have
been thinking while you talked. I've only spent two whole winters in town
since I married, end I've always thought I'd love to live in the old house.
I've rather envied you, Alexina, dear...it is so full of happy memories for
me. I did have such a good time as a girl...such a good, simple time.
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