She thanked Miss Bean for her kind offer, and explained that she was only spending her school vacation at Hartley Farm; that her time was fully occupied, etc., etc.
The little milliner looked so disappointed that Hilda was seized with a royal impulse, and offered to "go over" the hats in the window while she waited for Farmer Hartley, and freshen them up a bit.
"Well, I wish't ye would!" said poor Miss Bean.

"Fact is, I ain't done so well as I c'd wish this season.

Folks is dretful 'fraid o' buyin' new things nowadays." Then followed a series of small confidences on the hair-cloth sofa, while Hilda's fingers flew about the forlorn hats and bonnets, changing a ribbon here and a flower there, patting and poking, and producing really marvellous results.

Another tale of patient labor, suffering, privation.

An invalid mother and an "innocent" brother for this frail little woman to support.