Part 23 (1/2)
”Well, I'm so's to be round,” was the reply, which had the effect of sending Elsie off into a fit of convulsive laughter behind Katy's chair.
”I had business at the bank,” continued the visitor, ”and I thought while I was about it I'd step up to Miss Petingill's and see if I couldn't get her to come and let out my black silk. It was made quite a piece back, and I seem to have fleshed up since then, for I can't make the hooks and eyes meet at all. But when I got there, she was out, so I'd my walk for nothing. Do you know where she's sewing now?”
”No,” said Katy, feeling her chair shake, and keeping her own countenance with difficulty, ”she was here for three days last week to make Johnnie a school-dress. But I haven't heard anything about her since. Elsie, don't you want to run down stairs and ask Bridget to bring a--a--a gla.s.s of iced water for Mrs. Worrett? She looks warm after her walk.”
Elsie, dreadfully ashamed, made a bolt from the room, and hid herself in the hall closet to have her laugh out. She came back after a while, with a perfectly straight face. Luncheon was brought up. Mrs. Worrett made a good meal, and seemed to enjoy everything. She was so comfortable that she never stirred till four o'clock! Oh, how long that afternoon did seem to the poor girls, sitting there and trying to think of something to say to their vast visitor!
At last Mrs. Worrett got out of her chair, and prepared to depart.
”Well,” she said, tying her bonnet-strings, ”I've had a good rest, and feel all the better for it. Ain't some of you young folks coming out to see me one of these days? I'd like to have you, first-rate, if you will.
'Tain't every girl would know how to take care of a fat old woman, and make her feel to home, as you have me, Katy. I wish your aunt could see you all as you are now. She'd be right pleased; I know that.”
Somehow, this sentence rang pleasantly in Katy's ears.
”Ah! don't laugh at her,” she said later in the evening, when the children, after their tea in the clean, fresh-smelling dining-room, were come up to sit with her, and Cecy, in her pretty pink lawn and white shawl, had dropped in to spend an hour or two; ”she's a real kind old woman, and I don't like to have you. It isn't her fault that she's fat.
And Aunt Izzie was fond of her, you know. It is doing something for her when we can show a little attention to one of her friends. I was sorry when she came, but now it's over, I'm glad.”
”It feels so nice when it stops aching,” quoted Elsie, mischievously, while Cecy whispered to Clover.
”Isn't Katy sweet?”
”Isn't she!” replied Clover. ”I wish I was half so good. Sometimes I think I shall really be sorry if she ever gets well. She's such a dear old darling to us all, sitting there in her chair, that it wouldn't seem so nice to have her anywhere else. But then, I know it's horrid in me.
And I don't believe she'd be different, or grow slam-bang and horrid, like some of the girls, even if she were well.”
”Of course she wouldn't!” replied Cecy.
CHAPTER XIII
AT LAST
It was about six weeks after this, that one day, Clover and Elsie were busy down stairs, they were startled by the sound of Katy's bell ringing in a sudden and agitated manner. Both ran up two steps at a time, to see what was wanted.
Katy sat in her chair, looking very much flushed and excited.
”Oh, girls!” she exclaimed, ”what do you think? I stood up!”
”What?” cried Clover and Elsie.
”I really did! I stood up on my feet! by myself!”
The others were too much astonished to speak, so Katy went on explaining.
”It was all at once, you see. Suddenly, I had the feeling that if I tried I could, and almost before I thought, I _did_ try, and there I was, up and out of the chair. Only I kept hold of the arm all the time!
I don't know how I got back, I was so frightened. Oh, girls!”--and Katy buried her face in her hands.
”Do you think I shall ever be able to do it again?” she asked, looking up with wet eyes.
”Why, of course you will!” said Clover; while Elsie danced about, crying out anxiously: ”Be careful! Do be careful!”