"Because I didn't want Aunt Eleanor to be ashamed of me."
"She doesn't mind us," put in Katherine.
"Stop teasing," commanded Beatrice, "and show me how to put the thing together. Which piece goes where?"
Mrs. Franklin took the skirt and Katherine went to work at the waist, pinning and basting firmly, so that there could be no mistake in the result. Beatrice leaned lazily against the side of the house and watched them admiringly, praising their skill now and then in accents suspiciously soft.
"She's been taking lessons from George," remarked Mrs. Franklin. "That's the way he gets things done."
"Speaking of angels——" said Katherine.
Ronald crossed the parade-ground and joined the group. "What's that thing?" he asked, contemptuously indicating the pink calico.
"It's clothes," replied Beatrice, with spirit; "don't you wish you were going to have new ones?"
The Ensign's answering laugh had a hollow sound to it, for the shabby clothing at Fort Dearborn was a sore spot with both officers and men, even though new and proper raiment was said to be on the way.