the rest of us," smiling at her own conceit. "Get them out, air them,
and use them; then, if needs be, and you could get boarders enough to
warrant it, you could have the roof raised, and make that loft into two
nice rooms; but that is far ahead yet. Take two people first, for your
spare room, then get Mrs. Updyke and Mrs. Filcher to lodge a few more,
and you board them. Isn't that a scheme?" with a triumphant laugh.

"If I can do it; but I'm afraid, almost."

"So am I!" with a funny look. These sudden changes of base were a
characteristic of Miss Prue's; perhaps she believed, with Emerson, that
"unchanging consistency is the mark of a stagnant soul." "But what else
is there for you here, safe at home?"

"Nothing," discouragedly. "If there was only a canning factory, I could
work in that."

"Well, there isn't, so there's no use wishing. After all, I believe my
plan is practicable. Of course you are young in years, but you've had
any amount of experience; then you would only take women and children,
and they'd be easy with you." (O confiding Miss Prue!) "I believe I'd
try it, really."

If "in a multitude of counsellors there is safety," there is often also
confusion, as poor Job had occasion to experience; and Sara felt that
the more she talked about her future, the less she knew what disposition
to make of it. Finally she abandoned the subject with something like
despair, and asked a question in regard to the neighborhood, which made
Miss Prue say quickly, "Oh! that reminds me, Sara, I want you to be sure
to go to Betty's quilting-bee; you will, won't you?"