"Don't you _want_ your minds improved ?" "Do you think our superior minds _can_ be improved by that trash you're reading ?" said Patty.

"I really think some of your instructive conversation would benefit us more greatly." "You're an ungrateful pair," said Nan, "and you don't deserve that I should waste my valuable conversation upon you.

And you don't deserve, either, that I should tell you to turn your heads around to see who's coming--but I will." Her hearers looked round quickly, and saw three familiar figures coming along the board walk.
"Goody!" cried Patty, and scrambling to her feet, she ran with outstretched hands to meet them.
She didn't look very grown up then, in her blue-serge beach dress and her hair in a long thick braid down her back, and curling round her temples in windblown locks; but to Mr.Hepworth's artist eye she looked more beautiful than he had ever seen her.
Kenneth Harper, too, looked admiringly at the graceful figure flying toward them across the sand, but Frank shouted: "Hello, Patty, don't break your neck! we're coming down there.
Where's Marian ?" "She's right here," answered Patty; "we're all right here.

Your mother's up on the veranda.

Oh, I'm so glad to see you! This is the loveliest place, and we're having the beautifullest time; and now that you boys have come, it will be better than ever.