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you had brought two children into the world〃
So； then； it had come about during the years between their childhood
and their youth that Aunt Sophy received the burden of their confidences；
their griefs； their perplexities。 She seemed； somehow； to understand in
some miraculous way； and to make the burden a welcome one。
〃Well； now； you tell Aunt Sophy all about it。 Stop crying； Della。
How can I hear when you're crying！ That's my baby。 Now； then。〃
This when they were children。 But with the years the habit clung and
became fixed。 There was something about Aunt Sophy's housethe old
frame house with the warty stucco porch。 For that matter； there was
something about the very shop downtown； with its workroom in the rear；
that had a cozy； homelike quality never possessed by the big Baldwin
house。 H。 Charnsworth Baldwin had built a large brick mansion； in the
Tudor style； on a bluff overlooking the Fox River； in the best residential
section of Chippewa。 It was expensively furnished。 The hall console
alone was enough to strike a preliminary chill to your heart。
The millinery workroom； winter days； was always bright and warm
and snug。 The air was a little close； perhaps； and heavy； but with a not
unpleasant smell of dyes and stuffs and velvet and glue and steam and
flatiron and a certain racy scent that Julia Gold； the head trimmer； always
used。 There was a sociable cat； white with a dark…gray patch on his
throat and a swipe of it across one flank that spoiled him for style and
beauty but made him a comfortable…looking cat to have around。
Sometimes； on very cold days； or in the rush season； the girls would not
go home to dinner； but would bring their lunches and cook coffee over a
little gas heater in the corner。 Julia Gold； especially； drank quantities of
coffee。 Aunt Sophy had hired her from Chicago。 She had been with her
for five years。 She said Julia was the best trimmer she had ever had。
Aunt Sophy often took her to New York or Chicago on her buying trips。
Julia had not much genius for original design； or she never would have
been content to be head milliner in a small…town shop。 But she could
copy a fifty…dollar model from memory down to the last detail of crown
and brim。 It was a gift that made her invaluable。
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The boy； Eugene； used to like to look at Julia Gold。 Her hair was
very black and her face was very white； and her eyebrows met in a thick
dark line。 Her face as she bent over her work was sullen and brooding；
but when she lifted her head suddenly； in conversation； you were startled
by a vivid flash of teeth and eyes and smile。 Her voice was deep and low。
She made you a little uncomfortable。 Her eyes seemed always to be
asking something。 Around the worktable； mornings； she used to relate
the dream she had had the night before。 In these dreams she was always
being pursued by a lover。 〃And then I woke up； screaming。〃 Neither
she nor the sewing girls knew what she was revealing in these confidences
of hers。 But Aunt Sophy； the shrewd； somehow sensed it。
〃You're alone too much； evenings。 That's what comes of living in a
boardinghouse。 You come over to me for a week。 The change will do
you good； and it'll be nice for me； too； having somebody to keep me
company。〃
Julia often came for a week or ten days at a time。 Julia； about the
house after supper； was given to those vivid splashy negligees with big
flower patterns strewn over them。 They made her hair look blacker and
her skin whiter by contrast。 Sometimes Eugene or Adele or both would
drop in and the four would play bridge。 Aunt Sophy played a shrewd and
canny game； Adele a rather brilliant one； Julia a wild and disastrous hand；
always； and Eugene so badly that only Julia would take him on as a
partner。 Mrs。 Baldwin never knew about these evenings。
It was on one of these occasions that Aunt Sophy； coming
unexpectedly into the living room from the kitchen； where she and Adele
were foraging for refreshments after the game； beheld Julia Gold and
Eugene； arms clasped about each other； cheek to cheek。 They started up
as she came in and faced her； the woman defiantly； the boy bravely。 Julia
Gold was thirty （with reservations） at that time； and the boy not quite
twenty…one。 〃How long？〃 said Aunt Sophy； quietly。 She had a
mayonnaise spoon and a leaf of lettuce in her hand then； and still she did
not look comic。
〃I'm crazy about her；〃 said Eugene。 〃We're crazy about each other。
We're going to be married。〃
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Aunt Sophy listened for the reassuring sound of Adele's spoons and
plates in the kitchen。 She came forward。 〃Now； listen〃 she began。
〃I love him；〃 said Julia Gold； dramatically。 〃I love him！〃
Except that it was very white and； somehow； old…looking； Aunt
Sophy's face was as benign as always。 〃Now； look here； Julia； my girl。
That isn't love； and you know it。 I'm an old maid； but I know what love
is when I see it。 I'm ashamed of you； Julia。 Sensible woman like you；
hugging and kissing a boy like that； and old enough to be his mother。〃
〃Now； look here； Aunt Sophy！ If you're going to talk that way
Why； she's wonderful。 She's taught me what it means to really〃
〃Oh； my land！〃 Aunt Sophy sat down； looking suddenly very ill。
And then； from the kitchen； Adele's clear young voice： 〃Heh！
What's the idea！ I'm not going to do all the work。 Where's everybody？〃
Aunt Sophy started up again。 She came up to them and put a hand
a capable； firm； steadying handon the arm of each。 The woman drew
back； but the boy did not。
〃Will you promise me not to do anything for a week？ Just a week！
Will you promise m