Laura. I did wish so then, for I thought vacation would be a dull time.
Susan. I am sure it has been horrid dull to me, and I should think it must have been worse yet for you.
Laura. Why?
Susan. Because your mother keeps you at work all the time.
Laura. Indeed she does not. She sent me out to walk this very afternoon, and she always makes me put my work away at just such hours, for fear I should sit too close at my needle.
Susan. Mercy! do you love to sew? oh, I suppose you are learning fancy work: well, I don’t know but I might like that for a little while.
Laura. No, mother says I must not learn fancy work till I can do plain sewing extremely well. I was thinking how I should manage to pass the vacation, and I took it into my head that I would try to make a shirt by a particular time, and that is Saturday, my birthday. I shall be twelve years old next Saturday, and then I shall present my father with a shirt of my own making.
Susan. Did you do all the fine stitching yourself?
Laura. To be sure.
Susan. I am sure I would not make myself such a slave.