FROM MODEL TO MODISTE

"Come in Davy", said Martha, my Aunt's maid, as she opened the door to my ring, "It's been so long since you were over that we thought that you were mad at us".

" •

"Of course not Martha! I replied, "It's just that I've been very busy; but now that school's out you'll see more of me. Mother is out to a tea this afternoon so I thought I might as well come over early and have a visit with Aunt."

"That's fine Davy--she's upstairs", said Martha as she dis- appeared into the kitchen.

Aunt met me at the top of the stairs, exclaiming, "I thought I heard your voice Davy. I'm so glad you came over early." With that I got my usual hug and kiss--for Aunt and I were very fond of each other. In many ways we were like brother and sister, for she was much younger than Mother, and her point of view, as well as face and figure, were young. "I'm doing some dressmaking," she explained, "So come in and talk with me while I work. your Mother didn't come over with you, for I wanted to try this dress on her and finish pinning it; but now I suppose I'll have to wait until next week." I told her that Mother had gone to a tea, then our conversation turned to other things--Aunt busily working all the while.

I'm sorry

After an hour or so Aunt clipped a final thread, and petulant- ly exclaimed, "There I'm all ready for a fitting, and nothing can be done about it. I do wish Martha was my size so I wouldn't have to depend on your Mother."

I laughed and said, "Why Aunt, don't get so excited. What difference does it make when you finish?"

"Oh! None really Davy, it's just that I don't like to have a lot of half-done things around." Suddenly she exclaimed, "Why you are just my size! Why don't I try it on you?"

"Oh, no you don't!" laughed I, "I'm not going to be any dress- maker's dummy getting stuck full of pins."

43.