Part 7 (1/2)
”Mary,” said Tom.
”Hush, Tom!” said Mary, with a glance over her shoulder. ”Don't say anything till we get home.”
”I'm not going to say anything. But what famous book--the name of it, I mean--expresses what has been the matter with this picnic?”
”Oh, I don't know, Tom. 'Much Ado about Nothing'?”
”No,” said Tom. ”It's 'Ben Hur'!”
CHAPTER VI
AT THE HOTEL
”Oh Clarice, isn't it too bad that it's raining?” said Sue. ”It hadn't begun when I started. It did look a little threatening, though. And I meant to take you such a lovely walk, Clarice. I don't suppose you want to go in the rain? I love to walk in the rain, it's such fun; but you are so delicate--”
”That's it,” said Clarice, ignoring the wistful tone in Sue's voice.
”I shouldn't dare to, Sue. There is consumption in my family, you know,”--she coughed slightly,--”and it always gives me bronchitis to go out in the rain. Besides, I have such a headache! Have some candy?
I'll show you my new dresses, if you like. They just came this morning from New York--those muslins I told you about.”
”Oh, that will be fun!” said Sue. But as she took off her tam-o'-shanter she gave a little sigh, and glanced out of the window.
The rain was coming down merrily. It was the first they had had for several weeks, and sight, sound, and smell were alike delightful. It would be such fun to tramp about and splash in the puddles and get all sopping! Last summer, when the drought broke, she and Mary put on their bathing-dresses, and capered about on the lawn and played ”deluge,” and had a glorious time. But of course she was only twelve then, and now she was thirteen; and it made all the difference in the world, Clarice said. The water was coming in a perfect torrent from that spout! If you should hold your umbrella under it, it would go f-z-z-z-z-z! and fly ”every which way”; that was centrifugal force, or something--
”Here they are,” said Clarice.
Sue came back with a start, and became all eyes for the muslin dresses which were spread on the bed. They were too showy for a young girl, and the tr.i.m.m.i.n.gs were cheap and tawdry; but the colors were fresh and gay, and Sue admired them heartily.
”Oh, Clarice, how lovely you will look in this one!” she cried. ”Don't you want to try it on now, and let me see you in it?”
Clarice asked nothing better, and in a few minutes she was arrayed in the yellow muslin with blue cornflowers. But now came a difficulty: the gown would not meet in the back.
”Oh, what a shame!” said Sue. ”Will you have to send it back, Clarice, or can you have it altered here? There is a very good dressmaker; she makes all our clothes,--Mary's and mine,--except what are made at home.”
Clarice t.i.ttered.
”I'm afraid she wouldn't be quite my style,” she said. ”I wondered where your clothes _were_ made, you poor child! But this is all right.
I'll just take in my stays a little, that's all.”
”Oh, don't, Clarice! Please don't! I am sure it will hurt you. Why, that would be tight lacing, and tight lacing does dreadful things to you. I learned about it at school. Dear Clarice, don't do it, please!”
”Little goose! who said anything about tight lacing? I'm only going to--there! Now look--I can put my whole hand in. You mustn't be so awfully countrified, Sue. You can't expect every one to go about in a bag, as you and Mary Hart do. I am two years older than you, my dear, and I haven't lived in a village all my life. It is likely that I know quite as much about such matters as you do.”
”I--I beg your pardon, Clarice!” said Sue, the quick tears starting to her eyes. ”Of course you know a great, great deal more than I do; I--I only thought--”
”There, do you see?” Clarice went on. ”Now, that is real comfortable--perfectly comfortable; and it does fit alegant, don't it?”
”It certainly makes you look very slender,” faltered Sue.