Part 9 (1/2)
”Quarter day” came, and when Agnes handed Ruth her money, it was returned except the sum kept out for her board. ”You know it was decided that in future you should have your own money, Agnes.”
”But, Ruth, I don't understand. Why should I when yours all goes for the house?”
”If it were not best, I should not urge it,” was the reply, and Ruth seemed so positive that Agnes yielded. Weeks rolled on and to every inquiry made by Agnes as to the time when Ruth meant to buy herself a dress for winter, there was some trifling excuse made. Finally she told Agnes there was no necessity for her waiting, it would be better if she bought hers now before school commenced, and she could get her own whenever she was ready.
”What kind would you get if you were in my place?” asked Agnes, a new light breaking in upon her.
”A poplin by all means, they will be worn altogether.”
”That is the very thing,” thought Agnes. ”I am sure now that she does not mean to get any dress this winter, and she is so fond of good clothes. Our Ruth is the most self-sacrificing woman, I ever knew. Now it would be different if it were I, for I do not care for dress in the same way as she; but I am so glad I thought of it, she shall have one after all.”
Full of this thought she set out to make her purchases. After looking over several pieces, she came to one that was just what she wanted for Ruth, a rich brown of beautiful quality. But the price perplexed her, she could not get two and pay so much for them.
”Have you any others of this shade?” she asked.
”They are much coa.r.s.er,” was the reply, as the salesman handed down several pieces of inferior quality. After a great deal of thinking and calculating, Agnes ordered a dress of the fine material and one of the coa.r.s.er. ”Will you oblige me by laying the fine dress pattern aside for a few days until I send for it?” she asked. ”I will pay for both now however.” Then giving Miss Smithers' address for the other, she left the store and was soon at Miss Smithers' door.
Everything was explained. How that Ruth never would think of herself, and it was time some one should think for her, and then Agnes arranged the time for having them made.
”When mine is cut so that it cannot possibly do for Ruth, I shall have hers sent. I can hardly wait for the day,” she said, with the delight of a child. ”Please cut my skirt before then, Miss Smithers, for Ruth will think it coa.r.s.e and insist upon my sending it back, unless it is cut.
But it will make up quite prettily, and in winter no one notices the quality of your dress.” Guy would have been amused at her business capacity then, had he heard her.
Such a time as she had when she went home. Ruth could not understand why the dress was sent to Miss Smithers', instead of there. ”Just as like as not you have been cheated,” she remarked, ”and then when the skirt is cut there is no help for it. To be sure it will be an a.s.sistance to have some of the cutting done.”
Then came Miss Smithers and the dress. With a.s.sumed calmness Agnes showed it to her sister, but not without many secret misgivings.
”There, isn't it pretty, Ruth?”
”Yes, very, but it is extremely coa.r.s.e, Agnes. Why didn't you get a _good_ dress? You have enough second-best ones for this winter.”
”This will answer nicely now, I like it. Besides, I did not want to spend all my money on a dress.”
”Well, if you like it, and as long as it is cut, there is no use in making you dislike it. It is all well enough if it were not such a poor quality.”
Late in the afternoon, when there was little more to be done by the sisters, the rest being Miss Smithers' special work, Agnes asked Ruth if she could spare Martha to go on an errand for her. Handing her a note and telling her to take it to the address and wait for an answer, Agnes sat down to await the _denouement_.
”O dear, I wish it was over,” she thought. ”I am almost afraid to show it to her. I feel as badly as if I had done something wrong. Is it ever right to deceive? Of course this does not harm any one, and I did not see any other way in which I could manage it; but after all it was taking advantage of Ruth, and it may give her pain instead of the pleasure I intended.” These and many other questions pa.s.sed through her mind as she sat waiting for Martha. Presently she appeared with the parcel.
”Open it, Ruth, it is yours,” said Agnes, determined now to face it at once. ”I bought it and mine at the same time, but I kept it purposely until to-day.”
Ruth was so touched by this thoughtfulness on her sister's part, that she was a long time in untying the cord. She did not want to look up just then, for her eyes were full of tears.
”Let me,” said Agnes, and she drew it away from Ruth. ”It is almost the same shade as mine,” she said, holding it up to Miss Smithers.
”Well, now, so it is,” replied that lady, laying down her work and taking the new dress pattern. ”They are as nearly alike as two peas. If people did not know you so well, they would take you for twins.”
”O, Agnes, it is ever so much finer,” exclaimed Ruth. ”What did you do that for?” She spoke as if it pained her, and Agnes laughingly replied: ”Because, big sisters should always have the best things. Now don't look so doleful, Ruth, one would think you were going to be beheaded. I declare, Miss Smithers and I would be bowing and smiling like Frenchmen or Frenchwomen, rather if we were having a dress presented to us.”
Ruth laughed and bowed, and then Miss Smithers made one of her characteristic speeches and so, ”it was over,” at last as far as Agnes was concerned.