CHAPTER XI. NEEDLES AND TONGUES

ndwasmeaningtodoforher,ifshedared. “Isitgoingtobeatea-party,Miss?”askedJenny,astheblacksilkwentrustlingon,tohergreatadmiration,forsheconsideredPollyabeauty. “Well,no,Ithinkitwillprobablybealecture,”answeredPolly,laughing,forJenny'sgratefulserviceandaffectionateeyesconfirmedthepurposewhichMissMills'littlehomilyhadsuggested. AssheenteredtheShaws'parloranhourortwolater,anappallingarrayofwell-dressedgirlsappeared,eachprovidedwithadaintyreticule,basket,orbag,andeachtonguegoingagooddealfasterthantheneedle,whilethewhitefingersstitchedsleevesinupsidedown,putflanneljacketstogetherhindpartbefore,orgobbledbutton-holeswiththebestintentionsinlife. “Youareadeartocomesoearly.Here'saniceplaceforyoubetweenBelleandMissPerkins,andhere'sasweetlittledresstomake,unlessyoulikesomethingelsebetter,”saidFanny,receivingherfriendwithwarmthandplacingherwhereshethoughtshewouldenjoyherself. “Thankyou,I'lltakeanunbleachedcottonshirtifyouhavesuchathing,foritislikelytobeneededbeforeacambricfrock,”repliedPolly,subsidingintohercornerasquicklyaspossible,foratleastsixeye-glasseswereup,andshedidn'tenjoybeingstaredat. MissPerkins,agrave,cold-lookingyounglady,withanaristocraticnose,bowedpolitely,andthenwentonwithherwork,whichdisplayedtwodiamondringstogreatadvantage.Belle,beingofthedemonstrativesort,smiledandnodded,drewupherchair,andbeganawhisperedaccountofTrix'slastquarrelwithTom.Pollylistenedwithinterestwhilesheseweddiligently,occasionallypermittinghereyestostudytheelegantintricaciesofMissPerkins'dress,forthatyoungladysatlikeastatue,quirkingherdelicatefingers,andaccomplishingabouttwostitchesaminute. InthemidstofBelle'sstory,amoreexcitingbitofgossipcaughtherear,andsheplungedintotheconversationgoingonacrossthetable,leavingPollyfreetolistenandadmirethewit,wisdom,andcharitablespiritoftheaccomplishedyoungladiesabouther.TherewasaperfectBabeloftongues,butoutoftheconfusionPollygatheredscrapsoffashionableintelligencewhichsomewhatlessenedherrespectforthedwellersinhighplaces.OnefaircreatureassertedthatJoeSomebodytooksomuchchampagneatthelastGerman,thathehadtobegotaway,andsenthomewithtwoservants.AnotherdivulgedtheawfulfactthatCarrieP.'sweddingpresentswerehalfofthemhiredfortheoccasion.AthirdcirculatedawhispertotheeffectthatthoughMrs.Buckminsterworeathousand-dollarcloak,herboyswerenotallowedbutonesheettotheirbeds.Andafourthyounggossipassuredthecompanythatacertainpersonneverhadofferedhimselftoacertainotherperson,thoughthereportwasindustriouslyspreadbyinterestedparties.ThislatterremarkcausedsuchaclamorthatFannycalledthemeetingtoorderinamostunparliamentaryfashion. “Girls!girls!youreallymusttalklessandsewmore,oroursocietywillbedisgraced.Doyouknowourbranchsentinlessworkthananyoftheotherslastmonth,andMrs.FitzGeorgesaid,shedidn'tseehowfifteenyoungladiescouldmanagetodosolittle?” “Wedon'ttalkabitmorethantheoldladiesdo.Ijustwishyoucouldhaveheardthemgoon,lasttime.Thewaytheygetsomuchdone,is,theytakeworkhome,andmaketheirseamstressesdoit,andthentheytakecreditforvastindustry,”saidBelle,whoalwaysspokehermindwithcharmingcandor. “Thatremindsmethatmammasaystheywantasmanythingsaswecanmake,forit'sahardwinter,andthepooraresufferingverymuch.Doanyofyouwishtotakearticleshome,todoatoddtimes?”saidFan,whowaspresidentofthisenergeticDorcasSociety. “Mercy,no!Ittakesallmyleisuretimetomendmyglovesandrefreshmydresses,”answeredBelle. “Ithinkifwemeetonceaweek,itisallthatshouldbeexpectedofus,withourotherengagements.Poorpeoplealwayscomplainthatthewinterisahardone,andneveraresatisfied,”remarkedMissPerkins,makingherdiamondssparkleasshesewedbuttonsonthewrongsideofapinkcalicoapron,whichwouldhardlysurviveonewashing. “Nobodycanaskmetodoanymore,iftheyrememberallI'vegottoattendtobeforesummer,”saidTrix,withanimportantair.“I'vegotthreewomenhardatwork,andwantanother,buteveryoneissobusy,andasksuchabominableprices,thatI'mindespair,andshallhavetotakeholdmyself,I'mafraid.” “There'sachanceforJane,”thoughtPolly,buthadn'tcourage“tospeakoutloudinmeeting,”justthen,andresolvedtoaskTrixforwork,inprivate. “Pricesarehigh,butyouforgethowmuchmoreitcoststolivenowthanitusedtodo.Mammaneverallowsustobeatdownworkwomen,butwishesustopaythemwell,andeconomizeinsomeotherway,ifwemust,”saidEmmaDavenport,aquiet,bright-eyedgirl,whowascalled“odd”amongtheyoungladies,becauseshedressedsimply,whenherfatherwasamillionaire. “Justhearthatgirltalkabouteconomy!Ibegyourpardon,she'ssomerelationofyours,Ibelieve!”saidBelle,inalowtone. “VerydistantbutI'mproudofitforwithher,economydoesn'tmeanscrimpinginoneplacetomakeashowinanother.IfeveryonewouldfollowtheDavenports'example,workwomenwouldn'tstarve,orservantsbesuchatrouble.Emmaistheplainestdressedgirlintheroom,nexttome,yetanyonecanseesheisatruegentlewoman,”saidPolly,warmly. “Andyouareanother,”answeredBelle,whohadalwayslovedPolly,inherscatter-brainedway. “Hush!Trixhasthefloor.” “If