If he told his mother about Statira now, what should he tell her? He
compromised by telling her about the two girls that had painted his
likeness.
His mother seemed not to care a great deal about the pictures. She
said, "I don't want you should let any girl make a fool of you,
Lem."
"Oh no," he answered, and went and looked out of the window.
"I don't say but what they're nice girls enough, but in your place
you no need to throw yourself away."
Lemuel thought of the awe of Miss Carver in which he lived, and the
difference between them; and he could have laughed at his mother's
ignorant pride. What would she say if she knew that he was engaged
to a girl that worked in a box-factory? But probably she would not
think that studying art and teaching it was any better. She
evidently believed that his position in the St. Albans was superior
to that of Miss Carver.
His sister and her husband came home before they had finished
dinner. His sister had her face all tied up to keep from taking cold
after having her tooth drawn, and Lemuel had to go out and help his
rheumatic brother-in-law put up the horse. When they came in, his
brother-in-law did not wash his hands before going to the table, and
Lemuel could not keep his eyes off his black and broken fingernails;
his mother's and sister's nails were black too.
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