IX
ASHES OF ROSES
There she is, over an hour late; a little more an' she'd 'a' been caught in a thunder shower, but she'd never look ahead," said Miranda to Jane; "and added to all her other iniquities, if she ain't rigged out in that new dress, steppin' along with her father's dancin'-school steps, and swingin' her parasol for all the world as if she was play-actin'. Now I 'm the oldest, Jane, an' I intend to have my say out; if you don't like it you can go into the kitchen till it 's over. Step right in here, Rebecca; I want to talk to you. What did you put on that good new dress for, on a school day, without permission?"
"I had intended to ask you at noontime, but you were n't at home, so I could n't," began Rebecca.
"You did no such a thing; you put it on because you was left alone, though you knew well enough I would n't have let you."
"If I 'd been certain you would n't have let me I'd never have done it," said Rebecca, trying to be truthful; "but I was n't certain, and it was worth risking. I thought perhaps you might, if you knew it was almost a real exhibition at school."
"Exhibition!" exclaimed Miranda scornfully;
