CHAPTER XVI. A DRESS PARADE

aredtellwhatyouwant?”murmuredFanny. “IwishIhadseenWill'sfacewhenMaudproposed,”answeredPolly,withanodwhichansweredherfriend'sspeechbetterthanherwords. “Anynewsofanybody?”whisperedFan,affectingtoexamineasleevewithcare. “StillattheSouthdon'tthinklateeventshavebeenreportedyetthataccountsforabsence,”answeredPolly. “IthinkSirPhilipwashitharderthanwassupposed,”saidFan. “Idoubtit,buttimecureswoundsofthatsortamazingquick.” “Wishitdid!” “WhoisSirPhilip?”demandedMaud,prickingupherears. “AfamousmanwholivedinthetimeofQueenElizabeth,”answeredFan,withalookatPolly. “Oh!”AndMaudseemedsatisfied,butthesharpchildhadhersuspicionsnevertheless. “TherewillbeanimmensedealofworkinallthisfixingoverandIhatetosew,”saidFanny,todivertacertainperson'sthoughts. “JennyandIaregoingtohelp.Weareyourdebtors,aswellasBelle,anddemandtheprivilegeofpayingup.Blessings,likecurses,comehometoroost,Fan.” “Minecomehomeagooddealbiggerthantheywent,”answeredFanny,lookingpleasedthatlittlefavorsshouldbesofaithfullyremembered. “Theinterestonthatsortofinvestmentrollsupbeautifully,youknow.NowripthatdressforJennytoputinorder,andI'lltossyouupabonnetinlessthannotime,”saidPolly,determinedtohavethingsgosmoothly,forsheknewFan'sfeelingshadbeenagooddealtriedlately,inmanyways. “Imusthavesomethingtomatchmydress,andblueinside,”saidFanny,bringingoutherribbonboxes. “Anythingyoulike,mydearwhenitcomestobonnets,Iamusuallyinspired.Ihaveit!Thereweare!Andnothingcouldbenicer,”criedPolly,makingadiveamongthesilksFanwasturningoverwithalostexpression.“Thisbitofsilver-grayisallIask,here'senoughforakillingbonnet,andthoseforget-me-notsarebothprettyandappropriate.” “Youwretch,bestill!”criedFanny,asPollylookedupatherwithawickedlaughinhereyes. “Itwillbedoneintime,andthedresslikewise,solookyourprettiest,andacceptmyblessing,”continuedPolly,seeingthatFanlikedherraillery. “Timeforwhat?”askedPaulinaPry. “Yourwedding,dear,”sweetlyansweredFan,forPolly'spleasanthintsandpredictionsputherinacharminghumor,andevenmadeoldclothesoflittleconsequence. Maudgaveanincreduloussniff,andwonderedwhy“biggirlsneedtobesodreadfulmysteriousabouttheiroldsecrets.” “ThissilkremindsmeofKitty'sperformancelastsummer.AlittlecheckedsilkwassentinourspringbundlefromMrs.Davenport,andMothersaidKitmighthaveitifshecouldmakeitdo.SoIwasheditnicely,andwefussedandplanned,butitcameshortbyhalfofonesleeve.Igaveitup,butKitwenttoworkandmatchedeveryscrapthatwasleftsoneatlythatshegotoutthehalfsleeve,putitontheunderside,andnoonewasthewiser.Howmanypiecesdoyouthinksheputin,Maud?” “Fifty,”wasthewisereply. “No,onlyten,butthatwasprettywellforafourteen-year-olddressmaker.Yououghttohaveseenthelittlewitchlaughinhersleevewhenanyoneadmiredthedress,forsheworeitallsummerandlookedasprettyasapinkinit.Suchthingsaregreatfunwhenyougetusedtothembesides,contrivingsharpensyourwits,andmakesyoufeelasifyouhadmorehandsthanmostpeople.” “Ithinkwe'llgetafarmnearyourhouseIshouldliketoknowKitty,”saidMaud,feelingacuriousinterestinagirlwhomadesuchpeculiarpatchwork. “Thedress-paradeisover,andI'meversomuchobligedtoyou,Polly,forhelpingmethrough,andshowingmehowtomakethebestofthings.Ihopeintimetohaveasmanyhandsasyou,”saidFangratefully,whenthesimplebonnetwasdoneandeverythingplannedoutreadytobefinished. “Ihopeyouwillsoonhavetwogood,strongonesbesideyourown,mydear,”answeredPolly,asshevanished,withapartingtwinklethatkeptFan'sfacebrightallday.