_Susan._ And I _did_ have the blues outright. I never was so dull in my life, moping about the house. Mother won’t let me touch such books as I like to read, and the boys went to school all day, so I had nothing on earth to do but look at the drops of rain racing down the windows, and watch the clouds to see if it was going to clear up. I assure you I fretted from morning till night, and mother got out of all patience with me, and said I was a perfect nuisance in the house; but I am sure it was not my fault. _Fanny._ Well! I was a little better off. I sat half the time making fun of all the shabby cloaks and umbrellas that turned out in the rain. There was Mr. Skimmer went by every day with a cotton umbrella; and Mr. Saveals with an old faded silk one, three of the whalebones started out on one side, as if he wanted to poke people’s eyes out, and a great slit to let the rain through:--both of them misers, I know! And there was Miss Goodbody! she goes to see sick poor folks in all weathers, and won’t take a carriage, though she can afford it, because she says that would be ridiculous. I wish you had seen her come paddling through the wet! such shoes, and such stockings! I do think it is unladylike. Then, when everything else failed to amuse me, there were our neighbors opposite to be speculated upon. _Susan._ Ah! Laura Busy lives just across the street, I believe? _Fanny._ Yes, and there she sat at the window, on purpose to be seen, stitching away, and reading, and setting herself up as a pattern to the whole neighborhood. _Susan._ I would not have such a strict mother as she has for all the world. I don’t believe she enjoys her vacation at all. _Fanny._ I dare say it is her mother that keeps her at it so close. I should think she was bringing her up to be a seamstress; and yet, considering that everybody knows Mr. Busy is not rich, they dress Laura extravagantly. Did you see that beautiful French calico she wore on examination day? _Susan._ Yes, I saw it across the room, and thought I would go over and look at it, but couldn’t take the trouble. _Fanny._ Why, how you do gape, Susan! _Susan._ I know it; mother says I have a terrible trick of gaping. But I do get so tired. _Fanny._ Tired of what? _Susan._ I don’t know; I am tired of the vacation, I believe: and before the term was over I was wishing so for it! I was tired to death of school, and dare say I shall be so again in a fortnight. _Fanny._ Here comes Laura, glad enough to get away from mamma’s workbasket. Just see how fast she walks;--ah ha! she is going to the circulating library; look at that novel under her arm. _Susan._ I shall tell my mother of that; she thinks everything right that the Busy family do. (_Enter Laura._) _Fanny._ Well, Laura, poor thing! you are so glad to get out of the house that I suppose you are running away from it as fast as you can. _Laura._ I am not quite running, I believe, but you know I always walk fast.