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VI. All Sorts and Conditions of Men... and women
“Doctorsalwaystalklikethatjusttokeeppeoplecheeredup.Iwouldn’thavemuchhopeifIwasher.It’sbesttobepreparedfortheworst.”
“Butoughtn’twebepreparedforthebesttoo?”pleadedAnne.“It’sjustaslikelytohappenastheworst.”
“Notinmyexperience,andI’vefifty-sevenyearstosetagainstyoursixteen,”retortedEliza.“Going,areyou?Well,IhopethisnewsocietyofyourswillbeabletokeepAvonleafromrunninganyfurtherdownhillbutIhaven’tmuchhopeofit.”
AnneandDianagotthemselvesthankfullyout,anddroveawayasfastasthefatponycouldgo.AstheyroundedthecurvebelowthebeechwoodaplumpfigurecamespeedingoverMr.Andrews’pasture,wavingtothemexcitedly.ItwasCatherineAndrewsandshewassooutofbreaththatshecouldhardlyspeak,butshethrustacoupleofquartersintoAnne’shand.
“That’smycontributiontopaintingthehall,”shegasped.“I’dliketogiveyouadollarbutIdon’tdaretakemorefrommyeggmoneyforElizawouldfinditoutifIdid.I’mrealinterestedinyoursocietyandIbelieveyou’regoingtodoalotofgood.I’manoptimist.IHAVEtobe,livingwithEliza.Imusthurrybackbeforeshemissesme...shethinksI’mfeedingthehens.Ihopeyou’llhavegoodluckcanvassing,anddon’tbecastdownoverwhatElizasaid.TheworldISgettingbetter...itcertainlyis.”
ThenexthousewasDanielBlair’s.
“Now,italldependsonwhetherhiswifeishomeornot,”saidDiana,astheyjoltedalongadeep-ruttedlane.“Ifsheiswewon’tgetacent.
