Jack and Jill by Louisa May Alcott

“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

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