“Yes, I do, mamma; it’s no more than fair,” said Mary stoutly.
Mrs. Gray had never in her life felt so well pleased with her young daughter as at this moment. It was very clear now that Mary had been honestly disgusted with her own conduct, and had chosen this way to punish herself for her false charity and love of display.
“And I’ll not spoil it all by praising her,” thought the discreet mother.
When she went into the house with Mary the girls began to talk about Pecielena. They were rather “in fancy” with her since Miss Pike had taken her up.
“You don’t know how she has improved, auntie, since we came here,” said Lucy. “She used to be saucy; but somehow she’s afraid of us now, and we never see her unless we meet her, or go where she is.”
“And she doesn’t look the same in the new calico dress, does she, Miss Pike?” said Sadie. “She isn’t handsome, but she has soft, graceful ways like a kitten, and like a swan, and like a gazelle; and you ought to see her row a boat! If mother’s willing, I’m going to give her my dark green ladies-cloth dress to make over.”
“I’m going to show her how to bang her hair,” said Fanny. “And I have a Kate Greenaway dress she may have.”
This, with a side-glance at Mary. “I’d as lief let her have my handbag as not,” remarked Blanche Jones.
“Shan’t you do anything, Flaxie? You have so much money of your own.”