“Yes, I surely must. O, I think you can do it. There’s the whole evening.”
Then she turned away. Lilian’s temper flared up at white heat.
“Oh, mother, why didn’t you tell her you could not? She has other dresses to wear. Let me take it back to her—”
“No, dear, I’ll do it. Light the lamp for me. Why you know that’s part of my business,” and Mrs. Boyd gave a tremulous little laugh.
“I think Mrs. Barrington would not have such a thing done on Saturday night,” was her resolute reply, but she lighted the lamp and brought her mother’s work table with its handy cabinet.
“You see a good part of it will go under this plait. Oh Lilian, do not mind such little things.”
The insolent manner had hurt the girl keenly. Louie was on the promotion list and would graduate in June. She held her head very high. Her father had promised her a handsome watch with a beautiful neck chain that could be detached when required and she felt sure of it now.
Mrs. Boyd basted the tear on a piece of cloth and began her work.
“Lilian,” she said, “will you go and see if there is an iron on the range, and ask cook if I can come down by and by.”
Then she began her work. The underneath part at first, but somehow her hand trembled. Lilian watched with an indignant, aching heart. After awhile her mother leaned back with a sigh.