“I think myself you would be stunning if you only took more care in putting your clothes on. You’re so bright and breezy. And you’d be so stately if you stood straight.”
“How shall I go about to acquire this majestic carriage?” asked Katherine in the tone of a humble seeker after wisdom.
“Well,” replied Gladys judicially, “you’ve humped over so long that you’ve grown round-shouldered, and it’ll take some time to correct that. You 143 want to go in for gym with all your might in college, and for dancing, too. That’ll teach you how to carry yourself gracefully better than anything else.”
“Thank–you,” said Katherine slowly, when Gladys had finished her homily on feminine charms, and returned thoughtfully to her Romeo and Juliet.
“Mercy on us!” thought Gladys. “Whatever is going to happen? Katherine has begun to worry about her looks!”
Katherine laid the book down after a while and stared solemnly out over the lake.
“You’re sure you’re not offended at what I said?” asked Gladys, still full of misgiving that she had been too frank.
“Not in the least,” answered Katherine. “But say, would you mind writing out what you told me? I’ll never remember it if you don’t. You write it out and I’ll tack it up and check off the items as I dress.”
“All right,” said Gladys, laughing. “I’ll do that and if it works I’ll get out a book, ‘How to Be Neat, in one Volume.’ And now let’s start the fire. I see the bold fishermen are coming in.”
Aunt Clara came up triumphantly swinging her string of fish; she had caught five. The Captain had two and several of the others had one apiece.