"That's just it!" she whispered hoarsely. "This Mr. Loring looks so very fashionable. And Joe never will wear anything but those long, old-fashioned night-shirts! I don't see how I can put one of Joe's night-shirts on the Blue-room bed for Mr. Loring, Sophy! Aleck's different— I don't mind Aleck."
Sophy stared at her for a second, then she sat down on the lowest step of the stairs and rocked to and fro, hiding her face.
"Sophy! Sophy!" said Charlotte, still in that raucous whisper, and shaking her vexedly by the shoulder. "Stop! Get up and help me! You're too trying sometimes!"
Sophy tried earnestly to speak, but laughter kept stopping her.
Charlotte shook her again.
"How selfish of you, Sophy! I can't see where the fun comes in. I tell you I don't want to lay out one of poor, dear Joe's night-shirts for that young man to snigger over."
"I ... I don't believe he's the ... the 'sniggering' sort...." murmured Sophy, wiping her eyes.
"Well, to sneer at, then. You've got to help me. Can't you think of anything?"
Sophy considered. Suddenly her face became convulsed again.
"I ... I might lend him ... a pair of B-Bobby's pyjamas...." she faltered.