Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1899-01-27
CHAPTER VII.


One the following morning, as Shell
is carefully folding in tissue paper the
superhuous teaspoons brought into
use on the previous evening, Ruby once
more bursts in upon her solitude.
~ have brought over one of Meg's
dresaes as a guide; and think this
msr. 20 ought to make up prettlly,
sh,, says, unfolding parcel which she
cat. :, and displaying with some
triuk ph a tiny cotton frock and a
piec. of some light blue material.
Shell pauses in the act Of rubbing an
imaginary spot from one Of the spoons
and stares at the articles produced
with wondering eyes.
what are you talking about?' she
asks, with bewildered stress on the
word "are.'
"Why, I am going to make a dress
for poor little Meg" explains Ruby IN
a rather impatient and injured tone'
you must have noticed how badly the
poor child's things fit herr"
Shell turns perfectly crimson.
"You can't mean what you say
Ruby?" she cries in voice OF horror
"You have surely not been offering 10
make clothes for Robert Champley's
children?"
"Why not?" demands Ruby, with a
faint flush. 81 consider it only COM
mon act of charity to help the poor
man when he is in such dire need OF
help"
"Oh, then, he asked you to see ABOUT
it," queries Shell, looking relieved.
well, not exactly. We were talk
ing about the children, and l remark
ed that the nurse seemed to have no
idea how to dress them properly. VI
course he objected to my taking any
trouble in the matter but I could see
that he was distressed by what l told
him. So this morning I went over
and caught the nurse just about to cut
out another monstrosity, so JUST
marched off her stuff, and one OF Meg IS
dresses for pattern"
wasn't the nurse tritle sur
pl1sed?" asks Shell, in dry sarcastic
tone.
"She did seem little put OUT ad-
mits Ruby, with a quick flush. Il
shall warn Robert Champley against
that woman. think he must be mis-
taken in her-she has most shocking
manners"
do you set up as being a judge OF
manners?" asks Shell, still sneering.
II set up for knowing when people
are rude and disagreeable," answers
Ruby shortly. .ss
Shell, having carefully disposed Of
her last spoon, is turningly silently
from the room, when Ruby calls hel
back.
"Where are you going?" she asks
GROSSLY.
81 am going to lock up the silver, y
replies Shell, without -etracing hel
steps.
when you have done that I wish
you would help me to cut out Meg's
dress-you are so much more used to
that kind of thing than | am" says
Ruby, gazing despondently at the little
dress, which she has been turning in
side out to see how it is fashioned.
Il am really very sorry answers
Shell coldly; "but can't possibly help
you. l never cut out child's dress in
my life"
'Nonsense-don't be so cross-you
must do it for mel" cries Ruby, be-
ginning to look alarmed. "Of course
l quite reckoned on you, or I should
never have undertaken such task. d
II am very sorry" repeats Shell, in
a hard, unfeeling voice; "but I don't
in the least understand children's
things. l should advise you to send
for patterns or put it out-you will get
no help from me-" And then she
hurries from the room, nearly upset
ting Violet, whom she meets in the
passage.
Would you believe it, Vi?-that
wretch of a Shell has turned sulky,'
grumbles Ruby, as her cousin enters
the room. "She VOWS she won't help
me with Megs dress, or even cut il
out. Isn't it disagreeable of herr"
what on earth will you do?
know you cant manage it yourself
laughs Violet-instead of sympathiz,
ing she seems only amused at her
cousins dilemma.
81 am sure I don't know. Do you
think you could cut one out?" asks
Ruby hopelessly.
Violet turns the little dress all round
about, then holds it out at arms
length by both sleeves.
mot if hanging were the alterna-
tive" she laughs; "it is quite beyond
Ee."
But for Ruby it is no laughing mat
ter-tears of modification and vexa-
ton force themselves into her eyes.
Bah! Don't take it to heart, y
cries Violet lightly-"we'll send for
some patterns, and then make an os-
tentatious show of cutting. it out in
Shells presence. She won't be able
to Withstand that, I know, for she
hates to see good stuff wasted"
And Violet's ruse proves successful.
For when, a few days later, having
obtained some patterns from London,
Ruby deliberately begins to arrange
them the wrong way of the stuff,
Shell impatiently comes to the rescue,
and, having once taken possession OF
the scissors, Yields them to the end.
Having cut out the dress, she soon de-
cides to make it; she is a good work