I'll be ready for it." When Mrs.Elliott was comfortably seated in a rocking-chair on the balcony, Patty drew up a small wicker stool and sat down in front of her.
"Aunt Alice," she began, "my secret is just this.

I haven't any clothes that are fit to wear, and I want you to help me get some.

When I was at Aunt Isabel's she bought me loads of dresses, but they were all winter ones, and besides, I don't believe they're the kind you'd like.

In Boston, at Aunt Hester's, nobody ever thought much about what they wore, and I got along all right, somehow, but this summer down at Aunt Grace's, my clothes seemed to go to pieces all at once." "Like the 'One-Hoss-Shay,'" said Aunt Alice, laughing.

"Well, this is indeed a sad state of affairs.