Likely she didn't know that."
Jim scowled at the check.
"How much did she pay for the place?" he demanded. "It must have been
a lot more than it was worth, judging from this."
"I don't know," Mrs. Dodge replied. "And I dunno as I care
particularly, as long's we've got our share of it."
She was swaying back and forth in a squeaky old rocking-chair, the
check clasped in both thin hands.
"Shall we bank it, children; or draw it all out in cash? Fanny needs
new clothes; so do you, Jim. And I've got to have a new carpet, or
something, for the parlor. Those skins of wild animals you brought in
are all right, Jim, if one can't get anything better. I suppose we'd
ought to be prudent and saving; but I declare we haven't had any
money to speak of, for so long--"
Mrs. Dodge's faded eyes were glowing with joy; she spread the check
upon her lap and gazed at it smilingly.
"I declare it's the biggest surprise I've had in all my life!"
"Let's spend every cent of it," proposed Fanny recklessly. "We didn't
know we were going to have it. We can scrub along afterward the same
as we always have. Let's divide it into four parts: one for the
house--to fix it up--and one for each of us, to spend any way we
like. What do you say, Jim?"
"I shouldn't wonder if Mrs. Deacon Whittle would furnish up her best
parlor something elegant," surmised Mrs. Dodge. "She's always said
she was goin' to have gilt paper and marble tops and electric blue
plush upholstered furniture.
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