Someone to watch over me

be interested in sewing for the poor, but Lily had heard that their hostess—Mrs. White as Lily insisted on calling her properly in her own mind—was the most generous contributor to the church, and Peggy appeared to know where her social duties should be focused.
    Edith emerged from the kitchen. “Peggy, dear—“ she said.
    “There were girls coming around the side of your house as I arrived,“ Peggy said.
    “Those girl hoboes,“ Nina snapped. “They’re always bothering us, as if we were any better off than they are.“
    “But you are,“ Susan said with a smile. “You have a job.“
    “They could get jobs too,“ Nina said angrily. “Most of the out-of-work men who come by for food insist on working for it. If it weren’t for them, my shop would have fallen down a year ago. One of them told me the next time he was in town, he’d paint the porch for me if I would buy the paint and a brush and feed him.”
    Edith took over the conversation. “The girl hoboes would work if they had skills. They’ve been turned out of their homes because they were considered useless. We should pity them.“
    “Some of them might know how to sew,“ Susan said. “Do we want to invite them to work with us?“ She was deliberately provoking Edith, but with an innocent-looking grin.
    For once, Edith was disconcerted. “In my house? I think not.”
    The youngest member arrived before the discussion could continue. Ruby Heggan was only nineteen and brought along her infant, disappearing into the next room to nurse him when he became fretful. She was a tiny, pretty girl with lots of blond curly hair and had her baby wrapped in a lovely mixed-sherbet-colored blanket. She spoke up before anyone could introduce her to Lily.
    “I’m pregnant again,“ she announced, on the brink of tears, to the Voorburg Ladies League.
    Lily hoped the childless Edith would keep quiet and not congratulate Ruby. But her hopes were dashed. “You’ll be glad someday to have children of your own,“ the hostess said. “I only had the orphaned niece of my first husband’s sister. She lived with us until Bernard died.”
    Some of the rest of the women murmured sympathetically to Ruby, however. Most of them knew how hard and frightening it was to raise children in these bad times.
    “Where’s Roxanne?“ Phoebe asked. “It’s not like her to be late to a meeting.“
    “I saw her as I passed through the town,“ Ruby said, still sniffling. “She was carrying a bag into the greengrocer’s.“
    “Is that Roxanne Anderson?“ Lily asked. “Mrs. Prinney has mentioned her several times. She envies her her vegetable garden.“
    “It’s quite impressive,“ Edith commented. “She works very hard on it, and so do her children and her brother, though her husband doesn’t seem to get into the act. I never walk by the house without seeing someone weeding or watering. We’ll wait for her before I tell you why I called you together.”

Chapter 3

    Roxanne Anderson came in a few minutes later, looking furious. “Those darned hobo girls! Sorry I’m late, but I was watching for them. They’re stealing my vegetables when nobody’s looking. I wanted to catch them at it and give them what for.“
    “We waited for you, Roxanne,“ Edith said repressively, and introduced Lily as the newest member of the group.
    Lily had heard of Roxanne Anderson from Mrs. Prinney, and though they’d never met, Lily recognized her as someone she’d often seen in town as she carried baskets to the greengrocer with her long-striding walk and look of determination. Roxanne was a tall, strong woman with darker and straighter red hair than Phoebe’s. Lily guessed she was in her late thirties or early forties. The fair skin on her face and arms was sunburned, and her nose, chin, and forehead were peeling. Her hands were clean but rough and calloused. She wore a somewhat faded checkered dress that strained across her shoulders, as if she’d developed muscles since she’d purchased it. But it was starched and neatly pressed.
    “I’m so glad to meet you. The Prinneys live with us now, and Mrs. Prinney greatly admires your gardening,“ Lily said.
    Roxanne smiled at this, displaying large white perfect teeth. “Mrs. Prinney’s a good woman, but she won’t listen to my advice about tomatoes. She waters them too much and will get bland results. I’ll get to tell her ‘I told you so’ by the end of summer. Edith, would you thread my needle? You know my near