Arethusa agreed with fervency.
"You'd better thank your Aunt 'Titia then," from Miss Eliza.
"She did, Sister," interposed Miss Letitia hastily. "She already did!"
"I didn't hear her."
"Well, she gave me a lovely hug, and we both know what that means, don't we, 'Thusa dearie?"
"Hum ... ph!" from Miss Eliza.
Arethusa took the blue silk dress off very carefully and handed it back to Miss Letitia for the finishing touches.
She stood straight and tall before them for just a moment, and tilted back her head and yawned, stretching her round arms high above her in a glorious relaxation.
Then she looked down at that exceedingly dark, blue silk dress with dissatisfaction. Then she looked at Miss Letitia bending her grey head far over it and putting in innumerable and almost invisible stitches very carefully, just for Arethusa: her round, cherubic little mouth puckering into happy smiles about something known only to herself as she worked.
Arethusa's warm heart smote her.