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Page 24
The little lady said this so pathetically that Patty felt sorry
for her.
"But you have a doctor's advice, don't you?" she asked.
"No; I've no faith in doctors. One never knows what they put in
their old prescriptions. Now when I buy one of these advertised
medicines, they send me a lot of little books or circulars telling
me all about it. This last treatment of mine sends more reading
matter, I think, than any of the others, and their pamphlets are
SO encouraging."
"But, Aunt Adelaide," broke in Mona, "if you're somewhat of an
invalid, how did you come to promise father that you'd look after
us girls this summer?"
"I'm not an invalid, my dear. I'm sure a few more weeks, or
perhaps less, of this cure I am trying now will make me a strong,
hearty woman."
Patty looked at the weak little creature, and concluded that if
any medicine could make her strong and hearty, it must indeed be a
cure-all.
"May I call you Aunt Adelaide, too?" she said, gently, for she
wanted to be on the pleasantest possible terms with Mrs. Parsons,
and hoped to be able to help her in some way.
"Yes, yes, my dear. I seem to take to you at once. I look upon you
and Mona both as my nieces and my loved charges. I had a little
daughter once, but she died in infancy. Had she lived, I think she
would have looked like you. You are very pretty, my dear."
"You mustn't tell me so, Aunt Adelaide," said Patty, smiling at
her. "It isn't good chaperonage to make your girls vain."
"Mona is pretty, too," went on Mrs. Parsons, unheeding Patty's
words. "But of a different type. She hasn't your air of
refinement,--of class."
"Oh, don't discuss us before each other," laughed Mona, good-
naturedly. "And I'm jealous and envious enough of Patty already,
without having those traits fostered."
"Yes," went on Aunt Adelaide, reminiscently, "my little girl had
blue eyes and golden hair,--they said she looked like me. She was
very pretty. Her father was a plain-looking man. Good as gold,
Henry was, but plain looking. Not to say homely,--but just plain."
A faraway look came in the speaker's eyes, and she rambled on and
on about her lost husband and daughter, until Patty looked at Mona
questioningly.
"Yes, yes, Aunt Adelaide," Mona said, speaking briskly; "but now,
don't you want to change your travelling gown for something
lighter? And then will you lie down for a while, or come with us
down to the west veranda? It is always cool there in the morning."
"No, I don't want to lie down. I'll join you girls very shortly. I
suppose you have a maid for me, Mona? I shall need one for my
exclusive service."
"Oh, yes, Auntie; you may have Lisette."
"Not if she's French. I can't abide a French maid."
"Well, she is,--partly. Then I'll give you Mary. She's a good
American."
"Americans have no taste. Is there a Norwegian girl on the place?
I had a Norwegian maid once, and she--"
"No, there isn't," said Mona, deeming it wise to cut short another
string of reminiscences. "You try Mary, and if you don't like her,
we'll see what we can do."
"Well--send her to me--and we'll see."
Mona rang for Mary, and then the two girls went down to the
pleasant and cool veranda.
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