Page:Margaret Sherwood--A Puritan in Bohemia.djvu/61

A Puritan Bohemia "Anyway, it would be like Mr. Stanton," maintained Helen.

"It would be like him to plan to do it," corrected Anne. "I used to call him 'John-a-Dreams.'"

"That isn't fair!" cried Helen hotly. "I don't see how any one could try harder to carry out his ideas."

"He has changed a little," Anne admitted. "Something has given focus to his energy."

"Why is he interested in the poor?" asked Mrs. Kent.

"He said one day last winter," answered Helen, growing rather red, "that some rather bitter experience had shown him the selfishness of trying to get the things you want, and had made him think about the things that other people want."

"Did he say that?" asked Anne. It was her turn to flush. "Oh, Mr. Stanton is very modern," she said carelessly. "He is blasé about some things, thoroughly disillusioned, but busy making new illusions as fast as possible."