"Don't drag me into the argument, Bob. You hate going to church and
there's no use trying to pretend it is your dress that keeps you away."
"Would Eleanor care to go with us?" asked Mrs. Brewster.
"Is Polly going?" countered Eleanor.
"Oh, yes, I always go," said Polly.
"We-el, I don't know, Poll. I'll go next Sunday but I am taken by
surprise this week. I'll stay home with Bob, I guess."
"Very well, then, I'll tell Mr. Brewster to omit the extra seat in the
wagon," and Mrs. Brewster hurried away to dress.
"What shall we do all morning?" asked Eleanor the moment the
ranch-wagon was out of sight.
"We might unpack a few things we need, and arrange the trunks so mine
can be sent back home without giving you any trouble about yours,"
suggested Barbara.
"That's a good plan. And a good day to do it in, too," laughed Eleanor.
"I think it is ridiculous--the way they go on about the Sabbath! I
suppose they would be dreadfully shocked if they knew we were about to
unpack our trunks!" said Barbara, sneeringly.
Time passed quickly in sorting out the numerous items in the seven
trunks, and the girls felt famished before they were done. The articles
they wished to have out for use were piled up on the grass outside the
barn, and it looked a formidable heap when all was ready to leave the
barn.
"Goodness me! We'll have to make a dozen trips to the house with all
this!" exclaimed Eleanor.
"We'll carry all we can pile up this first trip, and then have
luncheon. Afterward we will carry the rest over," said Barbara.
The clothing seemed so light that they kept piling up the articles
until they could hardly see from under the mountain of lingerie and
accessories. But they both found how heavy the light summer clothes
could be, when one's arms were extended unnaturally to hold up so much
finery.
They finally reached the porch and threw the things into rustic chairs,
while they sat down to cool off in the breeze.
"Now, you carry the clothes to the bedroom, Bob, while I hunt in the
kitchen for something to eat," remarked Eleanor, after a time.
These important duties attended to, the girls were about to go to the
barn for a second load of clothing when the ranch-wagon drove up to the
steps. The family got out and Jeb drove on to the barn.
"What's this on the grass?" asked Mr. Brewster, stooping to pick up a
silk stocking.
"That's Barbara's, I think," said Anne, instantly divining the cause of
its being there.
Then Jeb came running back to the house with news. "Ah found th' trunks
is b'en opened by some one, an' all th' finery is piled on the grass
outside th' barn. What hes happened, Ah want to know."
Luckily Mrs. Brewster heard his remark and Mr. Brewster had no time to
speak before she caught Anne's hand, and led Jeb back to the barn.
Shortly thereafter, the three returned laden with everything ever known
in a lady's wardrobe.
"Mary, you have broken the commandments to-day!" said Mr. Brewster,
overcoming a keen desire to laugh at his wife.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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