Would I ask you to do anything that wouldn't be for your happiness?
I have found a real pretty house up on Fifteenth Street;
and we'll keep house together, just as cosey; and have a woman
come to wash and iron and scrub, so it won't be a bit hard;
and be right on the street-cars; and you won't have to drudge
helping Mrs. Carleton extra times with her restaurant."

"But, Tilly," eagerly interrupted Mrs. Louder, "you know I dearly
love to cook, and she PAYS me. I couldn't feel right to take
any of the pension money, or the little property your father
left me, away from the house expenses; but what I earn myself,
it is SUCH a comfort to give away out of THAT."

Tilly ran over and kissed the agitated face. "You dear, generous mother!"
cried she, "I'LL give you all the money you want to spend or give.
I got another rise in my salary of five a month. Don't you worry."

"You ain't thinking of doing anything right away, Tilly?"

"Don't you think it's best done and over with, after we've
decided, mother? You have worked so hard all your life I want
to give you some ease and peace now."

"But, Tilly, I love to work; I wouldn't be happy to do nothing,
and I'd get so fleshy!"

Tilly only laughed. She did not crave the show of authority.
Let her but have her own way, she would never flaunt her victories.
She was imperious, but she was not arrogant. For months she
had been pondering how to give her mother an easier life;