She sat thinking of this, while her friend took up handful after handful of beans, and put them into the pan.
"I'm going to try, and make it all myself," she went on gayly. "I am old enough now; and Esther has so much to do."
"Mother will lend you her pattern," answered Sallie, "but now really, Hatty, do you like my dress?"
"Yes, indeed; or I wouldn't wish mine like it; and I heard ever so many of the girls say how prettily it looked. Cynthia said those bright colors were very becoming, you're so pale, you know."
"Cynthia! did she say that?"
"Yes, she didn't like the tight sleeves at first; but I told her I did; and besides it's the fashion. You know," she added with a merry laugh, "when the fashion is a sensible one, we ought to follow it."
"But Hatty, Matilda says, Cynthia talked horridly about my dress. I got awfully angry about it, and said I wouldn't speak to her again this term."
"Oh, Sallie! that would be unkind and unforgiving, even if she had done all that Matilda says; but I do really think, Matilda is mistaken; I heard Cynthia praise the dress myself."
"No, she was not mistaken," cried Sallie in great excitement. "She meant to make a fuss. She's always trying to get people into a quarrel. There, the beans are done; and I'm going right to her house to tell her I've found her out; and I want nothing more to do with her."
"But Sallie, it's time we were going to the grove. The best nuts will all be gone; and I want to get good ones for uncle Oliver."