“Mr. Haley thinks that we should be very careful not to feel malice or envy towards Bolivar, but to rejoice at their good fortune in getting both roads and the shops, even if it does mean a loss to us.  What is material wealth in this world anyway when we can depend so on—­” Sallie’s expression was so beautifully silly and like the Dominie’s, that it was all that I could do not to give vent to an unworthy shout.  Nell saw it as I did and I felt her smother a giggle.

But before Aunt Augusta could get her breath to put the crux of the matter straight before her feminine tribunal, Aunt Martha beat her to it as she placidly rocked back and forth knitting lace for a petticoat for Henrietta.

“Of course, Glendale doesn’t really care about the railroad; in fact, we would much rather not have our seclusion broken in upon, especially as they might choose the route they have prospected”—­with a glance at Sallie—­“but it is to show them our friendliness, more Bolivar than the actual Commission, and our desire to rejoice with them in their good fortune.  It would be very mean spirited of us to ignore them and not assist them in entertaining their guests, especially as some of them must be invited.  We’ve never been in such an attitude as that to Bolivar!”

“Exactly, Martha,” answered Aunt Augusta with relief.  “The thought of proud old Glendale putting herself in an attitude of municipal sulks towards common Bolivar seemed an unbearable disgrace to me.  Didn’t we invite them up for a great fish-fry on the river when they opened that odious soap factory, and ask them to let us help take care of some of their delegates when they had the Methodist Conference?  They sent one of the two bishops to you, you remember, Martha, and I am sure your entertainment of him was so lavish that he went home ill.  No man said us nay in the exercising our right of religious hospitality, why should they in our civic?  We must not allow the town to put us in such an attitude!  Must Not!  It was for this that I called this meeting at Evelina’s, as she was the one to propose this public-spirited and creditable plan.”

“But what shall we do if they don’t want to have it?” asked Mamie.

“I have asked, when did the men of Glendale begin to dictate to the women as to whom they should offer their hospitality?” answered Aunt Augusta, as she arose to her feet.  “Are we free women, and have we, or have we not, command of our own storerooms and our own servants and our own time and strength?”

And as I looked up at the tall, fierce, white-haired old dame of high degree, daughter of the women of the Colonies and the women of the Wilderness days, I got exactly the same sensation I had when I saw the Goddess of Liberty loom up out of the mist as I sailed into the harbor of my own land from a foreign one.  And what I was feeling I knew every woman present was feeling in a greater or less degree, except perhaps Sallie, for her face was a puzzle of sore amazement and a pleading desire for further sleep.