"Why, no, not exactly," drawled Opal, "I thought Laurie would be
hospitable enough to look me up a place. Where is your best hotel? Is
it possible at all?"
"We haven't a sign of a hotel," said Marilyn smiling.
"Oh, horrors, nothing but a boarding house I suppose. Is it far away?"
"Not even a boarding house."
"Oh, heavens! Well, where do you stop then?"
"We don't stop, we live," said Marilyn smiling. "I'm afraid the only
thing you can do unless you decide to go back home tonight is to share
my room with me,--I have twin beds you know and can make you quite
comfortable. I often have a college friend to stay with me for a few
weeks."
Opal stared round eyed. This was a college girl then, hidden away in a
hole like this. Not even an extra spare room in the house!
"Oh my gracious!" she responded bluntly, "I'm not used to rooming with
some one, but it's very kind of you I'm sure."
Marilyn's cheeks grew red and her eyes flashed but she whirled back to
her keyboard and began to play, this time a sweet old hymn, and while
she was playing and before the two strangers had thought of anything to
say, Mr. Severn came in with the Book in his hand, followed by his
wife, who drew a small rocker and sat down beside him.
Marilyn paused and the minister opened his Bible and looked around on
them: "I hope you'll join us in our evening worship," he said pleasantly to
the two guests, and then while they still stared he began to read: "Let
not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in Me," on
through the beautiful chapter.
It was as Greek to the strangers, who heard and did not comprehend, and
they looked about amazed on this little family with dreamy eyes all
listening as if it meant great treasures to them. It was as if they saw
the Severns for the first time and realized them as individuals, as a
force in the world, something complete in itself, a family that was not
doing the things they did, not having the things considered essential
to life, nor trying to go after any of the things that life had to
offer, but living their own beautiful lives in their own way without
regard to the world, and actually enjoying it! That was the queer part
about it. They were not dull nor bored! They were happy! They could get
out from an environment like this if they choose, and they did
not. They wanted to stay here. It was incredible!