|
Main
- books.jibble.org
My Books
- IRC Hacks
Misc. Articles
- Meaning of Jibble
- M4 Su Doku
- Computer Scrapbooking
- Setting up Java
- Bootable Java
- Cookies in Java
- Dynamic Graphs
- Social Shakespeare
External Links
- Paul Mutton
- Jibble Photo Gallery
- Jibble Forums
- Google Landmarks
- Jibble Shop
- Free Books
- Intershot Ltd
|
books.jibble.org
Previous Page
| Next Page
Page 26
"I can read fairly well," said Patty, good-naturedly. "Let me
try."
She picked up Mrs. Parson's book, secretly amused to find that its
title was "The Higher Health," and she began to read as well as
she could, and Patty really read very well.
"Don't go so fast," commanded her hearer; "valuable information
like this must be read slowly, with intervals for thought." But
when Patty provided pauses for thought, Aunt Adelaide said,
petulantly, "Go on, do; what are you waiting for?"
At last, Patty purposely let her voice grow monotonous and low,
and then, as she had hoped, Aunt Adelaide dropped into a doze.
Seeing that she was really asleep, Patty beckoned to Mona, and the
two girls slipped away, leaving Mary in charge.
"Oh, Patty!" cried Mona, as soon as they were out of hearing.
"Isn't it awful! How CAN we stand having such a horrid old fusser
around?"
"Whoopee! Mona! moderate your language! Mrs. Parsons isn't so very
old, and she isn't horrid. If she's a fusser, that's just her way,
and we must politely submit to it."
"Submit, nothing! If you think, Patty Fairfield, that I'm going to
be taken care of by that worry-cat, you're greatly mistaken!"
"Stop, Mona! I won't let you call her such names; it isn't nice!"
"She isn't nice, either!"
"She's your aunt, and your guest; and you must treat her with
proper respect. She isn't an old lady; I don't believe she's
fifty. And she IS ill, and that makes her querulous." "Well, do
you want to wait on her, and read to her, and put up with her
fussiness all summer?"
"It doesn't matter whether we want to or not. We have to do it.
Your father sent for her, and she's here. You can't send her
away."
"I suppose that's so. But, oh, Patty, how I do dislike her! She's
changed so. When I saw her some years ago, she was sweet and
gentle, but not so fidgety and self-centred."
"You were so young then, Mona. You probably thought little about
her character. And, too, her ill health has come, and that has
undoubtedly ruffled her disposition."
"Well, she'll ruffle mine, if she stays here long."
"Of course she'll stay here, and we must make the best of it.
Perhaps we can train her to be a little less exacting. And then,
too, you can arrange to have the servants wait on her. You needn't
do it yourself, always."
"Patty, you're a great comfort. If anybody can train that woman,
you can. So please try, for as you say, she'll have to stay, I
suppose, until father comes home. Just think, she's father's own
sister! But she isn't a bit like him. Dad isn't fussy at all."
"No, your father is of a lovely disposition. And so kind and
indulgent to you, Mona."
"Yes; Dad is a darling. But we don't seem to get into the best
society, as he expected, when he built this big house. I wonder
why."
"Don't bother about that now," said Patty, who was going to talk
to Mona some time on that very subject, but was not ready yet.
"Now, as to Aunt Adelaide, for I may as well call her that since
she wishes it. I think, Mona, the only way to manage her is to be
always kind and sweet to her, but not to let her impose upon us. I
can see she is rather exacting, and if we always give in to her
whims, she will always expect it. So let's start out, as we mean
to continue. I'll read to her occasionally, but I can't always be
at her beck and call. Perhaps Janet can do it."
Previous Page
| Next Page
|
|