“Busy!” exclaimed Aunt Maria; “and what do you do, pray?”
“S’sh! Aunt Maria—it’s another secret!”
“How lovely!” smiled the old lady.
“I’m—” standing on tip-toe to whisper into her aunt’s ear—“I’m learning to sew.”
“No?” exclaimed Aunt Maria. “Why, my dear child, how—how can you learn to sew? I know your grandma cannot see to teach you—her eyes are too weak.”
“I feel very welcome”
“Aunt Maria,” whispered Mary Frances, “I’ve some little friends who know all about sewing, who teach me how—but it’s a ‘dead secret,’ and you must never, never, never tell—hope you’ll die if you do—will you promise—skull and cross-bones?”
