"I almost wish we could say the same of Pa Ramsey, only I'd hate to be poor—I don't see how poor people can stand it!"
"Oh, they are used to it. They don't mind it," returned Vera with a yawn.
"Tissue-paper hats!" they cried when their fond parent, sinking on a lounge, had recovered sufficient breath to relate her adventure; "Tissue-paper hats!"
Hermione's thoughts flew to her own room where, reposing in a box, was her best hat, a huge affair of fine white straw, with ribbons and flowers galore, whose glories made Alene's headgear appear the more offensive. She was wishing she had been along with Alene, wearing her own hat, of course, until her mother went on to say:
"That wasn't the worst of it! What can Frederick Dawson mean to allow Alene to associate with the town children!"
"Town children, mamma! Do you mean from the poorhouse?"
"No, Miss Density, mamma means that Lee girl and Ivy Bonner and—"
"Oh, them! They go to our room! That Bonner girl is awfully bright but so sarcastic, and Laura Lee is all right!"
Mrs. Ramsey shook her head.
"This comes of the public schools, where the president's child is made to rub shoulders with the miner's!"