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There emerged from the fringe of things, where she perpetually hovered, Mrs. Deacon's older sister, Lulu Bett, who was "making her home with us." And that was precisely the case. They were not making her a home, goodness knows. Lulu was the family beast of burden. "Can't I make her a little milk toast?" she asked Mrs. Deacon. Mrs.
There's nothing like a brisk walk to induce sound, restful sleep," he told them. He hummed a bar. "You'll be all right, mother?" Lulu asked. Mrs. Bett did not look up. "These cardamon hev got a little mite too dry," she said. In their room, Ina and Dwight discussed the incredible actions of Lulu. "I saw," said Dwight, "I saw she wasn't herself.
She had been driven down by Di and Jenny Plow, who had vanished upstairs and, through the ventilator, might be heard in a lift and fall of giggling. Monona had also been driven from the kitchen where Lulu was, for some reason, hurrying through the dishes. Monona now ran to Mrs. Bett, stood beside her and stared about resentfully. Mrs.
"Di must be having the 'tantrim' this time," she thought, and for a time said nothing. But at length she did say: "Why doesn't Di come? I'd better put her plate in the oven." Rising to do so, she was arrested by her mother. Mrs. Bett was eating a baked potato, holding her fork close to the tines, and presenting a profile of passionate absorption. "Why, Di went off," she said. "Went off!"
Where'd you been if she hadn't married?" Lulu said nothing. "What say?" Mrs. Bett demanded shrilly. She was enjoying it. Lulu said no more. After a long time: "You always was jealous of Inie," said Mrs. Bett, and went to her bed.
Evidently she rather enjoyed the situation, creating for herself a spot-light much in the manner of Monona. "Mother," said Lulu, "let me make you some toast and tea." Mrs. Bett turned her gentle, bloodless face toward her daughter, and her eyes warmed. "After a little, maybe," she said. "I think I'll run over to see Grandma Gates now," she added, and went toward the door.
"You little darling!" cried Mrs. Bett, and clung to her, her lifted eyes lit by something intense and living. But when the ice cream party had set off at last, Mrs. Bett left her supper, gathered up the flowers, and crossed the lawn to the old cripple, Grandma Gates. "Inie sha'n't have 'em," the old woman thought.
Bett listened, sang, it may be, with them; for when the singers ceased, her voice might be heard still humming a loud closing bar. "Well!" Cornish cried to Lulu; and then, in the formal village phrase: "You're quite a musician." "Oh, no!" Lulu disclaimed it. She looked up, flushed, smiling. "I've never done this in front of anybody," she owned.
Lulu said yes, that it was like old times, and brought the bacon to the table. "Lulu's the only one in this house can cook the bacon so's it'll chew," Mrs. Bett volunteered. She was wholly affable, and held contentedly to Ina's last word that Dwight thought now it was all right. "Ho!" said Dwight. "The happy family, once more about the festive toaster." He gauged the moment to call for good cheer.
"Well, I hope so, for pity sakes," said Mrs. Bett, and left the room with her daughter. Hearing the stir, Monona upstairs lifted her voice: "Mamma! Come on and hear my prayers, why don't you?" When they came downstairs next morning, Lulu had breakfast ready. "Well!" cried Ina in her curving tone, "if this isn't like old times."
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