Behind her, now running at full speed, now stopping suddenly, back
lifted, tail erect, came Lucky, the black kitten from The Maples.
Lucky had been an inmate of the parsonage for some weeks now and was
thriving famously in her adopted home. Towser tolerated her with the
indifference due such a small, insignificant creature, and she
alternately bullied and patronized Towser.
"We haven't shepherd's purse, nor lady's smock, that I know of, Lucky,"
Patience said, glancing back at the kitten, at that moment threatening
battle at a polite nodding Sweet William, "but you can see for yourself
that we have hollyhocks, while as for bachelor's buttons! Just look at
that big, blue bunch in one corner of the basket."
It was the morning of the day of Shirley's turn and Pauline was
hurrying to get ready to go over and help decorate the manor. She was
singing, too; from the open windows of the "new room" came the words--
"'A cheerful world?--It surely is
And if you understand your biz
You'll taboo the worry worm,
And cultivate the happy germ.'"
To which piece of good advice, Patience promptly whistled back the gay
refrain.
On the back porch, Sextoness Jane--called in for an extra half-day--was
ironing the white dresses to be worn that afternoon.
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