"I s'pose you knew a lot more about her in the beginning than we
did," said Mrs. Dodge, in a slightly offended tone.
"You must have known something about her, Phoebe," put in Mrs.
Fulsom. "I don't care what anybody says to the contrary, there's
something queer in a young girl, like her, coming to a strange place,
like Brookville, and doing all the things she's done. It ain't
natural: and that's what I told the Judge when he was considering the
new waterworks. There's a great deal of money to be made on
waterworks, the Judge says."
The eyes were now focused upon Mrs. Fulsom.
"Well, I can tell you, she ain't looking to make money out of
Brookville," said Abby Daggett, laying down her fan and taking an
unfinished red flannel petticoat from the basket on the table. "Henry
knows all about her plans, and he says it's the grandest idea! The
water's going to be piped down from the mountain right to our
doors--an' it'll be just as free as the Water of Life to anybody
that'll take it."
"Yes; but who's going to pay for digging up the streets and putting
'em back?" piped up an anxious voice from a corner.
"We'd ought to, if she does the rest," said Mrs. Daggett; "but Henry
says--"
"You can be mighty sure there's a come-back in it somewhere," was
Mrs. Whittle's opinion. "The Deacon says he don't know whether to
vote for it or not. We'll have rain before long; and these droughts
don't come every summer."
Ellen Dix and Fanny Dodge were sitting outside on the porch.
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