Marm is dreadful lonesome."
"Why don't she adopt a little girl?" asked Hollis.
"I declare! That _is_ an idea! Hollis, you've hit the nail on the head
this time. But I'd want her willing and loving, with no ugly ways. And
good blood, too. I'd want to know what her father had been before her."
"Are your boys like _you_, father?" asked Hollis.
"God forbid!" answered the old man huskily. "Hollis, I want you to be a
better man than your father. I pray every night that my boys may be
Christians; but my time is past, I'm afraid. Hollis, do you pray and read
your Bible, regular?"
Hollis gave an embarrassed cough. "No, sir," he returned.
"Then I'd see to it that I did it. That little girl joined the Church
last Sunday and I declare it almost took my breath away. I got the Bible
down last Sunday night and read a chapter in the New Testament. If you
haven't got a Bible, I'll give you money to buy one."
"Oh, I have one," said Hollis uneasily.
"Git up, there!" shouted Captain Rheid to his horses, and spoke not
another word all the way home.
After taking a few slow steps Marjorie quickened her pace, remembering
that Linnet did not like to milk alone; Marjorie did not like to milk at
all; at thirteen there were not many things that she liked to do very
much, except to read and think.
"I'm afraid she's indolent," sighed her mother; "there's Linnet now,
she's as spry as a cricket"
But Linnet was not conscious of very many things to think about and
Marjorie every day discovered some new thought to revel in.
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