Alix was a long time in recovering from the distress caused by the
incident. She avoided the city for weeks. It was her first intimation
that she was an object of unusual interest to people, that she was
the subject of whispered comment, that she was a "character" to be
pointed out to strangers. Even now, with the sting of injury and
injustice eased by time and her own good sense, there still remained
the disturbing consciousness that she was,--for want of a milder
term,--a "marked woman."
She was thoroughly acquainted with every detail connected with the
extensive farms and industries that had been handed down to her. A
great deal of her time was devoted to an intelligent and comprehensive
interest in the management of the farms. She was never out of
touch with conditions. Her tenants respected and admired her; her
foremen and superintendents consulted with her as they would not
have believed it possible to consult with a woman; her bankers
deferred to her.
She would have laughed at you if you had suggested to her that she
had more than a grain of business-sense, or ability, or capacity,
and yet she was singularly far-sighted and capable,--without being
in the least aware of it. Her pleasures were not allowed to interfere
with her obligations as a landlord, a citizen and a taxpayer.
A certain part of each day was set aside for the business of the
farms.
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