human
Eunie, I want you to do something, she said, one afternoon in late April, producing two long pieces of stiff white tarlatan;
gpt
What is it for?
human
Ah, that is a secret, replied Barbara.
gpt
You'll know by and by.
human
Can't you tell me now?
gpt
No, not till Mother's May Day. I'll tell you then.
human
Oh, Barbie, cried Eunice, dropping the tarlatan,
gpt
I wanted to speak to you before you began anything. The children want little Mary to be the queen this year.
human
Mary! Why? I've always been queen. What do they want to change for? Mary wouldn't know how to do it, and I've such a nice plan for this year!
gpt
Your plans always are nice, said the peace-loving Eunice;
human
Why, Eunice, I wouldn't have believed you could be so unkind! said Barbara, in an aggrieved tone.
gpt
It's not a bit fair to turn me out, when I've always worked so hard at the May Day, and done _everything_, while the rest of you just sat by and enjoyed yourselves, and had all the fun and none of the trouble.
human
But the boys think the trouble is half the fun, persisted Eunice.
gpt
They would rather take it than not. Don't you think it would be nice to be a maid of honor, just for once?
human
No, indeed, I don't! retorted Barbara, passionately.
gpt
Be maid of honor, and have that baby of a Mary, queen! You must be crazy, Eunice Erskine. I'll be queen or nothing, you can tell the boys; and if I backed out, and didn't help, I guess you'd all be sorry enough.