Part 24 (2/2)
”She can sit here, Ma'am. I'll fix the wind s.h.i.+eld so's she won't catch cold, and you can put this rug around her. She'll be warm.”
Grandma Perkins was lifted into the seat by the driver, bundled up in a big fur rug so that only her bright eyes could be seen, and they were off. Twice on the way home Grandma Perkins was seen to lean towards the chauffeur and the car jumped forward until it seemed that they were flying. When at last they drove into the ”home” grounds, they found a very anxious superintendent and John waiting for them, fearing something had happened.
As Drusilla took her leave, Grandma Perkins chuckled childishly.
”I always said, Drusilla, that I didn't want to die and go to Heaven; but I've changed my mind. I'll go any time now, 'cause I like flyin' and am willin' to be an angel.”
The superintendent was inclined to be angry with Drusilla--as angry as she could be with a woman who possessed a million dollars. She said stiffly:
”I'm afraid the ladies will be ill to-morrow.”
One of them, hearing it, spoke up.
”Of course we'll all be sick; but, then, it was worth it!”
And Drusilla left with those words ringing in her ears.
”John,” she said, ”perhaps all is vanity and a strivin' after wind; but the preacher didn't know much about women, or his wives didn't have motorcars.”
CHAPTER VIII
One morning James came to Drusilla.
”There is a man downstairs who wishes to see you,” he announced.
”What does he want?” asked Drusilla.
”He does not say; just says he wants to see you personally. He says he is from your home town or village.”
Drusilla looked up, pleased.
”Is that so. Take him in one of the setting-rooms and I'll be right down.”
James hesitated.
”What is it, James?”
”He, well, he is not exactly a gentleman; he looks like a man from the country.”
”That ain't nothin' to disgrace him for life. I'm from the country too, and I'm real glad to see any one from the place where I was raised. I ain't seen no one from there for a long time.”
When she went downstairs she found a rather florid man, about fifty years of age, dressed as a farmer would dress when out on a holiday.
She extended her hand cordially.
”James tells me you are from Adams,” she said. ”I'm real glad to see somebody from there. Set down. Won't you take off your coat?”
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