Nearly all my old school friends are married or gone away or interested in their own affairs. I really haven’t seen any of them for so long they would think it odd if I hunted them out now. I never did go out much, you know. When I was in school, I was too busy, and after Mother got sick, I had no time.”

“Well, you’re too young to get that way. You’ll be an old maid before you know it. Tom, don’t you think Marion ought to get out more?”

“Why, if she wants to,” said Tom good-naturedly. “Marion always was kind of quiet.”

“Now, Tom, that’s no way to talk. You know Marion ought to get out among young folks and have good times. She’s been confined too long.”

But the tears suddenly came into Marion’s eyes, and her lip quivered.

“Don’t, please, Jennie!” she protested. “I wasn’t confined. I loved to be with Father.”

“Oh, of course,” said Jennie sharply. “We all know you were a good daughter and all that. You certainly deserve a lot of praise. But you owe it to yourself to go out more now. It isn’t right. Shut up in a city house. If only we lived out in the country, now it would be different.”

Marion didn’t quite see why the country would be any better, but she tried to answer pleasantly.

“Well, Jennie, I am going back to take my old Sunday school class if they still need me. I had thought of that.”

“Oh, a Sunday school class!” sniffed Jennie. “Well, if that pleases you, of course. But I should think you’d want to get in with some nice young folks again. My land! This house is as silent as the tomb! Why, I had lots of friends in Port Harris before we came here to be with you. They would run in every day, and we’d telephone a lot in between. They do that in the country or in a small town. But in a city nobody comes near you. They aren’t friendly.”

“I suppose you are lonely, Jennie,” said Marion apologetically. “I hadn’t realized it. I have been so occupied ever since you came.”

“Oh, I’m never lonely,” said Jennie, tossing her head. “I’m thinking of you. I could be alone with my house and my children from morning to night and never mind it. It’s you I’m worrying about.”

Marion looked at her sister-in-law in mild surprise.