Frances told her to come again, whenever
she was lonesome or wanted advice about
anything. Lena replied that she didn't believe
she would ever get lonesome in Black Hawk.

She lingered at the kitchen door and begged
Antonia to come and see her often. "I've got
a room of my own at Mrs. Thomas's, with a
carpet."

Tony shuffled uneasily in her cloth slippers.
"I'll come sometime, but Mrs. Harling don't
like to have me run much," she said evasively.

"You can do what you please when you go
out, can't you?" Lena asked in a guarded
whisper. "Ain't you crazy about town, Tony?
I don't care what anybody says, I'm done
with the farm!" She glanced back over her
shoulder toward the dining-room, where Mrs.
Harling sat.

When Lena was gone, Frances asked An-
tonia why she hadn't been a little more cor-
dial to her.

"I didn't know if your mother would like
her coming here," said Antonia, looking
troubled. "She was kind of talked about, out
there."

"Yes, I know. But mother won't hold it
against her if she behaves well here. You

[[186]]

p185 _ -chap- _ toc-1 _ p186w _ toc-2 _ +chap+ _ p187

v?