CHAPTER IV.
THE PEACE-MAKER.
ATTY had a special reason for hurrying through her after-dinner work. She did not think it right to tell even Esther that her school-mate had tried to make hard feeling between cousins; but she did tell her heavenly Father, and asked his blessing on her effort to make peace between them.
Then with a parting kiss to Esther, who sat patiently at her sewing, she ran off to call for Sallie before Matilda joined the party.
"I've come begging," she said, laughing gayly, as she found her friend lingering over her afternoon task of picking beans for her mother to bake. "Here, let me help you; and I'll tell you what I want. You and I are just the same size; and I admired your new dress so much I'm going to get Esther to cut mine just like it. I want you to wear it over to our house, and let her see it; and then I can try it on. If it does fit me, and I'm sure it will, I can borrow your mother's pattern, and that will make it so easy for Esther, you know."
Sallie's cheeks grew crimson. She thought at first that Hatty must be joking. She had begun to hate that dress, but then, if Hatty liked it, it must be pretty, for every one in school acknowledged Hatty's good taste.