“Why, you’ve always been so prosperous!” exclaimed Mrs. Disbrow. “My husband often has spoken of how prosperous your father was, and has contrasted him with himself. You see, Mr. Disbrow never has got on well here. His farm has paid poorly, and of course the undertaking business is of very little consequence in a community like this. I declare I can’t blame him for being discouraged and bitter and sort of half-hating the men who are successful. It’s hard to like people when everything is going against you.”
Annie Laurie swept her glance around the room again, taking in the brother and sister, and resting it at last on the sick woman.
“I suppose it is,” she said slowly. “I suppose it is. But Mrs. McBirney says you have to give out liking to have people like you, and that you have to think you are going to succeed in order to do it.”
“And you have to think well in order to be well, I suppose,” said the invalid angrily. “I suppose that’s her idea. Well, you can tell her for me that she’s mistaken.”
Annie Laurie did not look rebuked. She sat still, thinking.
“I know so little about sickness,” she said slowly, “that I can’t even sympathize the way I ought to, I suppose. Oh, Mrs. Disbrow, don’t you suppose you could go riding with me? I’m such a good driver, I wouldn’t let you be shaken up at all. Sam and Hannah could sit beside you to keep you from being joggled.”
“A pretty sight I’d make!” cried Mrs. Disbrow. “There’s too many of the neighbors would be peeking out to see what I looked like, after all these years of being shut away. No, thank you, child, I don’t believe I want to try.”
“But you could go at twilight. We could go when the neighbors are at supper. Wouldn’t it be fun, Sam? Could you sit up, ma’am?”
“No, I don’t believe I could. And even if I did, like as not I’d pay for it the next day.”
“But why not try? Maybe you wouldn’t have to pay for it. Oh, ma’am, it’s so wonderful to be out of doors. You can’t think what you miss staying in here—can she, Sam?”
“No,” said Sam, “she can’t have an idea. Oh, mother, you never would listen to me, though truly I believe you’d be ever so much better if you would get out. Please try. The three of us will be able to take good care of you.”