Marjorie's New Friend

Produced by Project Gutenberg Distributed Proofreaders
Author of the Patty Books
Mother, are you there?
Yes, Marjorie; what is it, dear?
Nothing. I just wanted to know. Is Kitty there?
No; I'm alone, except for Baby Rosy. Are you bothered?
Yes, awfully. Please tell me the minute Kitty comes. I want to see her.
Yes, dearie. I wish I could help you.
Oh, I wish you could! You'd be just the one!
This somewhat unintelligible conversation is explained by the fact that while Mrs. Maynard sat by a table in the large, well-lighted living-room, and Rosy Posy was playing near her on the floor, Marjorie was concealed behind a large folding screen in a distant corner.
The four Japanese panels of the screen were adjusted so that they enclosed the corner as a tiny room, and in it sat Marjorie, looking very much troubled, and staring blankly at a rather hopeless-looking mass of brocaded silk and light-green satin, on which she had been sewing. The more she looked at it, and the more she endeavored to pull it into shape, the more perplexed she became.
I never saw such a thing! she murmured, to herself. You turn it straight, and then it's wrong side out,—and then you turn it back, and still it's wrong side out! I wish I could ask Mother about it!