I wish you wouldn't do
yourself such injustice; even when nobody hears you but me, it is
wrong."
"Sometimes when you think I'm talking nonsense it's really the
gospel truth," said Patty. "I'm not a grand, splendid character,
Waitstill, and it's no use your deceiving yourself about me; if
you do, you'll be disappointed."
"Go and parboil the beans and get them into the pot, Patty. Pick
up some of the windfalls and make a green-apple pie, and I'll be
with you in the kitchen myself before long. I never expect to be
disappointed in you, Patty, only continually surprised and
pleased."
"I thought I'd begin making some soft soap to-day," said Patty
mischievously, as she left the room. "We have enough grease saved
up. We don't really need it yet, but it makes such a disgusting
smell that I'd rather like father to have it with his dinner.
It's not much of a punishment for our sleepless night."
AUTUMN
XVII
A BRACE OF LOVERS
HAYING was over, and the close, sticky dog-days, too, and August
was slipping into September. There had been plenty of rain all
the season and the countryside was looking as fresh and green as
an emerald. The hillsides were already clothed with a verdant
growth of new grass and
"The red pennons of the cardinal flowers
Hung motionless upon their upright staves.
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