Part 21 (1/2)
”Much obliged for your flattery; but it's all wasted this time,”
answered Marion, as she and Mattie left the room to hunt up Miss Christine.
”Sallie, do you know where Miss Christine is?” asked Marion, as they met Sarah Brown on the stairs.
”Yes, she's just gone to her room. Do you know she's going to a party!”
”1 know it; isn't it splendid? I'm going up to ask her to let me do her hair.”
”I don't believe she'll let you.”
”Yes, she will; I'll coax her into it, see if I don't.”
”Where are you going to do it? Do let me see you.”
”In my room, I guess, so that Flo can see me; but not until after tea.”
After depositing Mattie in her room with a plateful of goodies, Marion proceeded to that of Miss Christine, which was directly opposite that of Miss Stiefbach, and upon knocking was immediately told to ”Come in” by Miss Christine, who at that moment was shaking out the folds of a plain, but handsome black silk.
”O Miss Christine, isn't it splendid?” cried Marion, clasping her hands; ”you're going to a party!”
Miss Christine laughed her dear, little, good-natured laugh. ”Why, it seems to be considered a most wonderful event. Sarah has just been up here, and appears almost as pleased as if she were going herself.”
”Of course she is, and so am I; and I'm going to do your hair.”
”My dear,” replied Miss Christine, ”it will be too much trouble.”
”Trouble! why, I admire to do it. I always do mamma's when I'm home, and she wants to look _very_ fine.”
”But you see I don't want to look very fine.”
”Oh, yes, you do; or if you don't I want you to; besides, I promise not to do it any _fixy_ way,--braid the back _some_thing as you do, only put it up with a little more style.”
Miss Christine laughed. ”Well, as you are so very kind as to offer, I'll let you; but when will you do it?”
”Directly after supper, please; that will be time enough. Will you be kind enough to bring your brushes into my room? I think the light is better.”
”Very well, it does not make any difference to me. You run out now, and I will be all ready but putting on my dress, before tea.”
Marion ran back to Mattie, and then went down to communicate the success of her errand to Sarah and Florence. Immediately after supper they helped Flo upstairs, and had just got her comfortably settled in the only easy-chair in the room, with her foot on a cricket, and a shawl thrown carelessly over it, as Miss Christine came in, brushes in hand.
Marion seated her with her back to the gla.s.s, saying as she did so, ”I don't want you to see yourself until it is all done.”
”Don't make me look too fine,” said Miss Christine.
”No fear of that,” replied Marion, as she rapidly undid the ma.s.sive braids, and brushed them until they shone like burnished gold.
”There is some pleasure in doing such hair as yours,” said Marion, with all the enthusiasm of an Auguste; ”no need of rats or yarn here.”
For a few moments she worked in silence, as her fingers flew in and out, until two long s.h.i.+ning braids were made; these she twisted gracefully round at the back of Miss Christine's head, exclaiming as she put in the last hair-pin:--