Page:Leah Reed--Brenda's summer at Rockley.djvu/305

287 “Why, it’s pineapple silk. My brother brought it from India years and years ago; but it was n’t fit for me to wear,  or at least I was n’t fit for it, so I just put it away, and  now, well—Amy, I should think it would be just the  thing for you to wear over to the wedding; it would n’t  need so very much trimming, and it could be made up  real easily. I ’ve been thinking about it since I lay here, and I don’t see why it should n’t be made just to suit you.”

Amy was speechless at this thoughtfulness on the part of cousin Joan, and she did n’t know exactly what to say,  or, rather, she did not try to say anything. Mrs. Redmond was the first to speak.

“Well, cousin Joan, this is certainly very generous in you. But I’m not quite sure that we ought to accept it. It’s a rather expensive material for a little girl to wear, and I have never—”

“Now, mamma, don’t spoil it all, when I want it so much.”

“Why, Amy, I am surprised at you!” and there was a note of reproof in Mrs. Redmond’s voice.

“Oh, mamma, I did n’t mean to speak in that way; but I—but you will let me have the dress, won’t you?”

Even cousin Joan smiled at the eagerness in Amy’s tone.

“Why, since you want it so much,, what can I say? But you have n’t thanked cousin Joan.”

Whereupon, “Oh, cousin Joan, how careless I am! Thank you ever so much! You see, I was so overpowered at first. It is such beautiful material. Now, mamma, do