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Howells, William Dean, 1837-1920

"The Minister's Charge"

He's outlived his
usefulness."
"It's a shame, your having to bring the water," said Miss Swan; she
was the girl who had spoken before.
The other one came forward and said, "Won't you sit down?"
She spoke to Lemuel; the law-student answered, "Thank you; I don't
care if I do."
Lemuel did not know whether to stay, nor what to say of Miss Swan's
picture, and he thanked the young lady and remained standing.
"O Jessie, _Jessie_, Jessie!" cried Miss Swan.
The other went to her, tranquilly, as if used to such vehement
appeals.
"Just _see_ how my poor cow looks since I painted out that
grass! She hasn't got a leg to stand on!"
The law-student did nothing but make jokes about the picture. "I
think she looks pretty well for a cow that you must have had to
study from a milk-can--nearest you could come to a cow in Boston."
Miss Carver, the other young lady, ignored his joking, and after
some criticisms on the picture, left him and Miss Swan to talk it
over. She talked to Lemuel, and asked him if he had read a book he
glanced at on the table, and seemed willing to make him feel at
ease. But she did not. He thought she was very proud, and he
believed she wanted him to go, but he did not know how to go. Her
eyes were so still and pure; but they dwelt very coldly upon him.
Her voice was like that look put into sound; it was rather high-
pitched but very sweet and pure, and cold.


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