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Page 25
"It's lucky you have such shoals of servants," said Patty. "At our
house, we couldn't give a guest a choice of nationalities."
"Oh, Patty, isn't she a terror?"
"Who, Mary?"
"No! Aunt Adelaide! It gives me the creeps to look at her. She's
so slight and fragile, I expect to see her go to pieces like a
soap bubble."
"She IS like a soap bubble, isn't she! But, Mona, you mustn't talk
about her like that. I feel sorry for her, she looks so ill and
weak. I think we ought to do all we can to cheer her up, and to
restore her health and strength. I'm sure she's refined and dainty
in her way."
"Yes, she's all of that. But I don't see how she can do the
chaperon act."
"Oh, well, there isn't much to do. It's only the idea of having a
matronly lady here to observe the proprieties."
"But I don't believe she can do that. I think she'll take to her
bed soon. She ought to go to a good sanitarium."
"Nonsense, Mona, she isn't as ill as all that! Can't you see
through her? She's the sort of lady who likes to fancy she's ill,
and likes to try all sorts of quack medicines."
"Well, you can look after her, Patty; you seem to understand her
so well."
"All right, I will. Hush, here she comes."
Mrs. Parsons came slowly out to the veranda. She was followed by
Mary, carrying a fan, a light wrap, a book, a thermometer, and a
glass of lemonade.
"Sit here, won't you, Aunt Adelaide?" said Mona, politely offering
a comfortable wicker chair.
"I'll try this, my dear, but I fear it's too low for me. Can you
get another cushion or two?"
Mona went for more cushions, and then Aunt Adelaide had to have
the chair moved, for fear of a possible draught,--though there
wasn't a breath of wind stirring. Then a table must be moved
nearer for the book and the lemonade, and the thermometer placed
where it would get neither sun nor wind.
"I ALWAYS keep a thermometer near me," she explained, "and I
always bring my own, for otherwise I can't feel sure they are
accurate."
Mrs. Parsons wore a dress of light grey lawn. Though cool looking,
it was unbecoming, for it had no touch of black or white to
relieve its monotony, and on the colourless lady it had a very
dull effect. But, though languid, Aunt Adelaide was quite able to
give orders for what she wanted. She sent Mary for another book,
and for more sugar for her lemonade. Then she fidgeted because a
stray sunbeam came too near her.
"Mary," she said, petulantly. "Oh, I sent Mary away, didn't I? How
long she's gone! Mona, can't you find a screen somewhere to shade
that sun a little?"
"There are screens to roll down from the veranda roof, Aunt
Adelaide; but it is so shady here, and they cut off the breeze so.
However, if you want them down---"
"I certainly do," said the lady, and as Mary returned then, she
lowered the rattan blinds.
But they were no sooner down than Aunt Adelaide wanted them up
again, and when at last she became settled in comfort, she asked
Mona to read aloud to her.
"Please excuse me," said Mona, who was thoroughly annoyed at the
fussing and fidgeting ways of her aunt, "I am a very poor reader."
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