Part 4 (1/2)
The loving touch was too much for tired Drusilla. The tears sprang to her eyes and she clasped Barbara's hands in both of her own.
”Oh, Barbara,” she said, ”it gives me a hurt inside my heart to leave you all behind! Listen, Barbara! Whether it's a million dollars or only a hundred, you shall have new store teeth. Good-by!”
To Drusilla's embarra.s.sment both Mr. and Mrs. Smith were waiting for her beside the motor to say good-by, and were effusive in their farewells.
”You will come to see us, won't you, Miss Doane, and you won't forget us”--and Drusilla was tucked into the luxurious motor, a footstool found for her feet, a soft rug wrapped around her and they drove away.
She was quiet for the greater part of the journey, and Mr. Thornton left her to her own thoughts. Finally she sat more upright and began to take an interest in the fittings of the car. Mr. Thornton watched her.
”Do you like the car?” he asked
”It's beautiful. You know it's the first time I been in one.”
”Why, is it possible? I thought every one had been in a motor.”
”No, not every one, Mr. Thornton; I don't think that more'n two of the ladies in the home have been in one. This is fixed up real nice.”
”I am glad you like it,” Mr. Thornton said. ”It is yours.”
Drusilla sat back suddenly in her seat.
”This--this--_mine_?”
”Yes, this is yours, and you have two more at your home.”
Drusilla gasped.
”Two more like this?”
”No, not exactly the same. One is an open car and one is a small town car.”
”Why--why--what'll I do with three? I can't ride in 'em all at once.”
”No, but you will find that you can use them all.”
”Can I use them whenever I want to?”
”Certainly; they are yours. All you have to do is to send word to one of the chauffeurs and they will be ready for you.”
”Send word to who?”
”The chauffeur, the man who is driving.”
”Is he mine, too?”
”Yes; you have two men.”
”What'll I do with two?”
”One will be on duty a certain number of hours, and then the other takes his place.”