"It seems as if the world was on fire." "Yes, and when you see the surface-gas burnun' down in the woods, like it used to by our spring-house-so still, and never spreadun' any, just like a bed of some kind of wild flowers when you ketch sight of it a piece off." They began to tell of the wonders of their strange land in an antiphony of reminiscences and descriptions; they unconsciously imputed a merit to themselves from the number and violence of the wells on their father's property; they bragged of the high civilization of Moffitt, which they compared to its advantage with that of New York.

They became excited by Margaret's interest in natural gas, and forgot to be suspicious and envious.
She said, as she rose, "Oh, how much I should like to see it all!" Then she made a little pause, and added: "I'm so sorry my aunt's Thursdays are over; she never has them after Lent, but we're to have some people Tuesday evening at a little concert which a musical friend is going to give with some other artists.

There won't be any banjos, I'm afraid, but there'll be some very good singing, and my aunt would be so glad if you could come with your mother." She put down her aunt's card on the table near her, while Mela gurgled, as if it were the best joke: "Oh, my! Mother never goes anywhere; you couldn't get her out for love or money." But she was herself overwhelmed with a simple joy at Margaret's politeness, and showed it in a sensuous way, like a child, as if she had been tickled.

She came closer to Margaret and seemed about to fawn physically upon her.
"Ain't she just as lovely as she can live ?" she demanded of her sister when Margaret was gone.
"I don't know," said Christine.

"I guess she wanted to know who Mr.
Beaton had been lending her banjo to." "Pshaw! Do you suppose she's in love with him ?" asked Mela, and then she broke into her hoarse laugh at the look her sister gave her.