Eleanor H. Porter

“ It was this necessity for making explanations over and over, and then over again, that made living with John Gilmore so nerve-wearing and wearisome. There was always present, too, the heartache of constant association with the tragedy of a wrecked mind in a familiar, well-loved body. ”

“ And so to-day when the bang of the slammed door reverberated through the house, Gordon shrugged his shoulders and observed:
"I think I hear Katy's piano."
"But what are we going to do?" gasped May.
It was Sister Sue's shoulders that shrugged this time.
"Well, I know some things I shan't have to do." Sister Sue was laughing a little grimly. "I shan't have to explain and apologize every time I go into the kitchen because we have n't a certain kind of fork or spoon or kettle or frying-pan that 'everybody has who pretends to have anything'! ”

“ May and Gordon, however, were not happy. There was never any doubt about their door-slamming and pan-banging. Gordon said it was the deadest town he ever saw; and that he'd get out of it in the fall if he had to join a circus to do it! And as for expecting a fellow to live, really live, without lights and hot water and bathrooms, and a few decent conveniences like that, it could n't be done! ”

“ She learned, too, that bow-adorned muslin aprons are a poor protection against the extraordinary untidiness that ensues from the preparation of the simplest meal. While as for dishes—well, May said that if Katy used any more dishes than Sister Sue did just to boil a potato, she would like to know it! May was still washing dishes, though she, too, had long since discarded the twin of the muslin apron, bought at a fair, substituting a stout blue gingham, loaned by Mrs. ”