because he might have made an awful lot of
trouble."

"Oh, I'll always like him for that, too. And I guess from what I saw of
him, and all I've heard about his wife, that he doesn't have a very
happy time at home, either. Maw Hoover must make him do just about what
she wants, whether he thinks she's right or not."

"She certainly does, Dolly, unless she's changed an awful lot since I
was there."

"Well, I suppose the point is that there really must be more people like
him in the country than like his wife and Farmer Weeks. These people
around here are certainly being as nice as they can be to the poor
Pratts. Just think of their coming here to-morrow to build a new house
for them!"

"There are more nice, good-hearted people than bad ones all over, Dolly.
That's true of every place, city or country."

"But it seems to me we always hear more of the bad ones, and those who
do nasty things, than we do of the others, in the newspapers."

"I think that's because the things that the bad people do are more
likely to be exciting and interesting, Dolly. You see, when people do
nice things, it's just taken as a matter of course, because that's what
they ought to do. And when they do something wicked, it gets everyone
excited and makes a lot of talk. That's the reason for that."

"Still, this work that the men from Cranford are going to do for the
Pratts is interesting, Bessie. I think a whole lot of people would like
to know about that, if there was any way of telling them."

"Yes, that's so. This isn't an ordinary case, by any means. And I guess
you'll find that we'll do plenty of talking about it. Miss Eleanor will,
I know, because she thinks they ought to get credit for doing it."

"So will Mrs. Pratt and the children, too. Oh, yes, I was wrong about
it, Bessie. Lots of people will know about this, because the Pratts will
always have the house to remind them of it, and people who go by, if
they've heard of it, will remember the story when they see the place. I
do wonder what sort of a house they will put up?"

"It'll have to be very plain, of course. And it will look rough at
first, because it won't be painted, and there won't be any plaster on
the ceilings and there won't be any wall paper, either."

"Oh, but that will be easy to fix later. They'll have a comfortable
house for the winter, anyhow, I'm sure. And if they can make as much
money out of selling butter and eggs as Miss Eleanor thinks, they'll
soon be ab