Lauretta took Sarah’s hand and held it tightly for a moment. “There is something I want most desperately!” she said.

“What is it, my dear Lauretta?” Sarah said, alarmed at the other’s vehemence.

“Your promise to let me abide here.”

“You are certainly welcome to stay as long as you please.”

“No, I don’t mean in the social way of a visit; I don’t mean that at all. I mean to say I am—” She turned her face away. “Well, I always thought I was strong enough to ricochet from one droll disaster to another, getting plenty of fun out of life’s absurdities and even sometimes a little profit. But now I’m confused. I don’t know how to live in this new world of war. Everyone is so deadly serious. I don’t understand people’s hating someone they don’t even know. How can that be? I have been very angry with a great many—for five minutes or even five days at a time—but I have never hated anyone. Your Roman talked to me quite a lot—nicely, too. But he really took me seriously as a person, something that has seldom happened to me. And so when I bade him farewell, I continued to think of myself seriously. And oh, I did not enjoy it! I may be trivial, but I am not a fool. I stood outside myself, as it were, and I saw that however delightful the world might even now find a young and pretty Lauretta, there is no place in it for an aging and frightened Lauretta. I beg of you—a haven. If there is any way I may be of use or help or service, please direct me. Only do not—I pray you: do not make me go!”

Sarah took her sister tenderly into her arms and held her a long moment. “You are welcome, and we probably shall find a use for you! As for ‘haven,’ yours is here for as long as you want it and as long as Beulah Land can offer it to any of us.”

“I thank you, sister!”

“Now I must get to work!” Sarah said. “But unless you are very tired, why don’t you just throw your dress over your head without bothering with the corset and go down to sit and talk with the others? They’re all breathless to hear your adventures, I know they are.”

“Do you think they’d be truly interested?”

“I’m certain of it. They’re lonely. I don’t have much time to give them. They need your wit and liveliness. And I’ll tell you what—I’ll send over to Oaks to ask Bruce and Rachel to join us here for supper this very night. Edna won’t go out at night any more, and Doreen stays with her—”