CHAPTER XVI. A DRESS PARADE

red,shefeltthatshewasonlypayingherdebts,andtoldTomshelikedit,whenhepickedheruplookingasgrimyasachimney-sweep. “Youcanturnyourhandtoanything,youclevergirl,sodocomeandgivemesomeadvice,forIaminthedepthsofdespair,”saidFannywhenthe“maid-of-all-work”asPollycalledherself,foundaleisurehour. “Whatisit?Mothsinthefurs,asmokychimney,orsmall-poxnextdoor?”askedPolly,astheyenteredFan'sroom,whereMaudwastryingonoldbonnetsbeforethelooking-glass. “ActuallyIhavenothingtowear,”beganFanimpressively“I'vebeentoobusytothinkorcaretillnow,buthereitisnearlyMayandIhavehardlyadecentragtomyback.Usually,youknow,IjustgotoMrs.O'GradyandtellherwhatIwantshemakesmyspringwardrobe,Papapaysthebill,andthereIam.NowI'velookedintothematter,andIdeclaretoyou,Polly,I'mfrightenedtoseehowmuchitcoststodressme.” “NotsomuchassomegirlsIknow,”saidPollyencouragingly. “Perhapsnot,forIhaveaconscience,andtasteiseconomysometimesbutreally,Polly,Ihaven'tthehearttoaskPapaforacentjustnow,andyetImusthaveclothes.Youaresuchageniusforplanningandworkingwonders,thatIthrowmyselfuponyouandask,'HowshallImakeaspringwardrobeoutofnothing?'” “Letmeseethe'nothing'beforeIadvise.Bringouteveryragyou'vegot,andwe'llseewhatcanbedone,”saidPolly,lookingasifsheenjoyedtheprospect,forshehadagreatdealofthatfemininefacultywhichwecall“knack,”andmuchpracticehadincreasedit. Fannybroughtouther“rags”andwasastonishedtoseehowmanyshehad,forchair,sofa,bed,andbureauwerecovered,andstillMaud,whowasburrowingintheclosets,keptcrying,“Here'sanother.” “There'sadiscouragingheapofrubbishforyou!”saidFan,assheaddedafadedmuslintothelastpile. “Now,tomeyour'rubbish'looksveryencouraging,becausethereisgoodmaterialthere,andnotmuchworn-outfinery,that'smydetestation,foryoucan'tdoanythingwithit.Letmesee,fivebonnets.Putthewinteronesawaytillautumn,ripupthesummerones,andoutofthreeoldoneswe'llgetaprettynewone,ifmyeyesdon'tdeceiveme.” “I'llrip,andthendoletmeseeyoumakeabonnet,itmustbesointeresting,”saidMaud,whippingoutherscissorsandeagerlybeginningtoreduceashabbylittlebonnettoitsoriginalelements.“Nowthedresses,”continuedPolly,whohadrapidlysortedoutthepiles. “Willyouhavethegoodnesstolookatthis?”saidFan,holdingupagraystreetsuitfadedpastcure. Pollywhiskeditwrongsideout,andshowingtheclean,brightfabric,said,withatriumphantwave,“Beholdyournewsuitfreshtrimmingandlessofitwillfinishyouoffassmartasever.” “Ineverworeaturneddressinmylifedoyousupposepeoplewillknowit?”saidFandoubtfully. “Whatiftheydo?Itwon'thurtyou.Notoneinahundredwilleverthinkanythingaboutyourdress,exceptthatitispretty.I'vewornturnedanddyedgownsallmydays,anditdon'tseemtohavealienatedmyfriends,orinjuredmyconstitution.” “Thatithasn'tI'magoose,Polly,andI'llgetoverthefeelingthatit'ssortofdisgracefultobepoorandhavetoeconomize.We'llturnthegray,andI'llwearitbravely.” “Thenitwillbemorebecomingthanever.Oh,here'stheprettyvioletsilk.Thatwillmakealovelysuit,”criedPolly,goingonwiththereview. “Don'tseehowtwodraggledskirtsandastainedwaistcanbetransformedintoawholerig,”saidFan,sittingonthebed,withhergarmentsstrewnaboutherinvariousattitudesoflimpdespondency. “Well,ma'am,myplanisthis,”beganPolly,imitatingMrs.O'Grady'simportanttone,andbadgrammar:“Goresisout,andplaitsisintherefore,asthetopofthisskirtisquitefresh,wewilltakeofftheruffles,turnitupsidedown,andleaveitplain.Theupperskirtwillbemadescanter,andfinishedwithafrillthenthewaistcanberefreshedwiththebestpartsofthesewideflounces,ando