The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1900-02-16
CHAPTER VII.

OsAS AAASA
6 carefully folding in tissue paper the
superfluous teaspoons brought into
use on the previous evening, Ruby once
more bursts in upon her solitude.
Il have brought over one of Meg's
dresses as guide; and l think this
uaerino ought to make up prettily,"
-she says, unfolding a parcel which she
earrtes, and displaying with some
triumph tiny cotton frock and
piece 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 your talking about?' she
asks, with bewildered stress on the
wosd care"
~Why, am going to make dress
Tor poor little Meg" explains Ruby in
a rather impatient and injured tone.
You must have noticed how badly the
voor child's things fit herr"
Shell turns perfectly crimson.
you can't mean what you say,
RuSy?" she cries in voice of horror
You have surely not been offering to
make clothes for Robert Champley's
ehildren?"
why not?" demands Ruby, with a
faint flush. II consider it only COM
mon act of charity to help the poor
man when he is in such dire need Of
help
ooh, then, he asked you to see about
it," queries Shell, looking relieved.
We'll, 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. OF
course he objected to my taking any
trouble in the matter, but l could see
that he was distressed by what told
Aim. So this morning 1 went over
end caught the nurse just about to cut
marched off her stuff, and one of Meg
dresses for a pattern"
Wasn't the nurse a trife sur
'pr7sed?" asks Shell, in dry sarcastic
tone
<-She did seem little put out" adj
units Ruby, with a quick flush. Il
shall warn Robert Champley against
that woman. l think he must be mis-
taken in her-she has most shocking
manners"
DO you set up as being judge of
nanners?" asks Shell, still sneering.
II set up for knowing when people
are rude and disagreeable, answers
Ruby shortly.
Shell, having carefully disposed Of
Fer last spoon, is turningly silently
from the room, when Ruby calls her
back.
Whore are you going?" she asks
Grossly.
Il am going to lock up the silver, :"
replies Shell, without retracirg her
steps
When you have done that I wish
1Tcu would help me to cut out Meg's
ossss-you are so much more used to
tkat kind of thing than l 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
goa. never cut out child's dress in
my life"
"Nonsense-don't be so cross-you
must do it for me-" cries Ruby. be-
ginning to look alarmed. "Of course
{ quite reckoned on you, or I should
never have undertaken such a task"
II am very sorry" repeats She'll in
q hard, unfeeling voice; but l don't
In the least understand children's
things. 1 should advise you to send
'for patterns or put it out-you will get
Ed 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 Shell has turned sulky,"
xrumbles Ruby, as her cousin enters
the room. "She vows she won't help
me with Meg's dress, or even cut it
ost. Isn't it disagreeable of herr"
What on earth will you do? I
know you can't manage it yourself"
laughs Violet-instead of sympathiz-
SuS SAc Sce1AS Ou4y dmuSSQ dL QeC
cousins dilemma
81 am sure 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; sit is quite beyond
me"
Bat 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
cries Violet lightly-"we'll send fol
rsame patterns and then make an os.
uHtatio11s show Of cutting it out in
Shells presence. She won't be able
70 withstand that, l know, for she
hates to see good stuff wasted
And Violet's ruse proves successful
For when, few days later, having
shtained some patterns from London
Ruby. deliberately begins to arrange
them the wrong way Of the stun
:sheal impaticntly comes to the rescue
-, u