“What are you smiling about?” asked her father, after a little pause,
for his head felt better, and it amused him to question Molly.
“I was thinking about my summer clothes. I must get them before
long, and I’d like to go with Mrs. Grant and learn how to shop, if
you are willing.”
I thought Miss Bat did that for you.
“She always has, but she gets ugly, cheap things that I don’t like. I
think I am old enough to choose myself, if there is someone to tell
me about prices and the goodness of the stuff. Merry does; and she
is only a few months older than I am.”
“How old are you, child?” asked her father, feeling as if he had lost
his reckoning.
“Fifteen in August”; and Molly looked very proud of the fact.
“So you are! Bless my heart, how the time goes! Well, get what
you please; if I’m to have a young lady here, I’d like to have her
prettily dressed. It won’t offend Miss Bat, will it?”
Molly’s eyes sparkled, but she gave a little shrug as she answered,
“She won’t care. She never troubles herself about me if I iet ncr
alone.
“Hey? what? Not trouble herself? If she doesn’t, who does?” and
Mr. Bemis sat up as if this discovery was more surprising than the
other.
“I take care of myself and Boo, and she looks after you. The house
goes anyway.”
“I should think so! I nearly broke my neck over the parlor sofa in
the hall to-night. What is it there for?”
Molly laughed. “That’s the joke, sir, Miss Bat is cleaning house,
and I’m sure it needs cleaning, for it is years since it was properly
done. I thought you might have told her to.”
“I’ve said nothing. Don’t like house-cleaning well enough to
suggest it. I did think the hall was rather dirty when I dropped my
coat and took it up covered with lint. Is she going to upset the
whole place?” asked Mr. Bemis, looking alarmed at the prospect.
“I hope so, for I really am ashamed when people come, to have
them see the dust and cobwebs, and old carpets and dirty
windows,” said Molly, with a sigh, though she never had cared a
bit till lately.
“Why don’t you dust round a little, then? No time to spare from the
books and play?”
“I tried, father, but Miss Bat didn’t like it, and it was too hard for
me alone. If things were once in nice order, I think I could keep
them so; for I do want to be neat, and I’m learning as fast as I can.”
“It is high time someone took hold, if matters are left as you say.
I’ve just been thinking what a clever woman Miss Bat was, to make
such a tidy little girl out of what I used to hear called the greatest
tomboy in town, and wondering what I could give the old lady.
Now I find you are the one to be thanked, and it is a very pleasant
surprise to me.”
“Give her the present, please; I’m satisfied, if you like what I’ve
done. It isn’t much, and I’d idn’t know as you would ever observe
any difference. But I’d id try, and now I guess I’m really getting
on,” said Molly, sewing away with a bright color in her cheeks, for
she, too, found it a pleasant surprise to be praised after many
failures and few successes.
“You certainly are, my dear. I’ll wait till the house-cleaning is over,
and then, if we are all alive, I’ll see about Miss Bat’s reward.
Meantime, you go with Mrs. Grant and get whatever you and the
boy need, and send the bills to me”; and Mr. Bemis lighted a cigar,
as if that matter was settled.
“Oh, thank you, sir! That will be splendid. Merry always has pretty
things, and I know you will like me when I get fixed,” said Molly,
smoothing down her apron, with a little air.
“Seems to me you look very well as you are. Isn’t that a pretty
enough frock?” asked Mr. Bemis, quite unconscious that his own