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Warner, Anne, 1869-1913

"The Rejuvenation of Aunt Mary"

An' there ain't a moth hole in
it--not one."
Janice looked out of the window.
"I've got a cameo pin, too," continued Aunt Mary reflectively. "My, but
that's a handsome pin, as I remember it. It's got Jupiter on it holdin' a
bunch of thunder and lightnin' an' receivin' the news of somebody's bein'
born--I used to know the whole story. But, you see, I expected to just be
sittin' by Jack's bed and I never thought to bring any of those dress-up
kind of things," she sighed.
Janice returned to the bed side.
"Hadn't you better begin to dress?" she howled suggestively. "They are
going to dine here before going to the theater and dinner is ordered in an
hour."
"Maybe I had," said Aunt Mary, "but--oh dear--I don't know what I _will_
wear!" She began to emerge from the bedclothes as she spoke.
"How would my green plaid waist do?" she asked earnestly.
"I think it would be lovely," shrieked the maid.
"Well, shake it out then," said Aunt Mary, "it ought to be in the
fashion--all the silk they put in the sleeves. An' if you'll do my hair
just as you did it yesterday--"
"Yes, I will."
Then the labor of the toilette began in good earnest, and three-quarters
of an hour later Aunt Mary was done, and sitting by the window while
Janice laced her boots.
A rap sounded at the door.
"Come in," cried the maid.
It was Jack with a regular fagot of American Beauties.
"Well, Aunt Mary," he cried with his customary hearty greeting. "How!"
"How what?" asked Aunt Mary, whose knowledge of Sioux social customs had
been limited by the border line of New England.


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