human
Well, Letty went on,
gpt
I wonder what the Hazens'll do. It'd cost an awful sight to repair that house; almost as much as to build a new one. What insurance did you hear they had? Has Patty said?--This skirt is about ready to try on, Alicia. I want to drape it real nice. Can't you stand on the table?
human
There! Now, you won't mar the top. Take your skirt right off and climb up.
gpt
You haven't answered about the insurance, Alicia. What did Patty say about it? I don't suppose Patty'd know exactly and I wouldn't trust her guess anyway. John Hazen never seemed to, to any extent. Patty's kind o' flighty, isn't she, and cracked on the men, although you wouldn't think it from her highty-tighty manner. She used to think she was going to marry Meriwether Beatty, I remember. Land! He had no more idea of marrying her than I had. And she's been cracked on every man that's more'n spoken to her since. She's got the symptoms of nervous prostration; all the signs of it. I shouldn't be a bit surprised if she went crazy, one o' these days. If Doctor Sanderson is looking for patients for his sanitarium he needn't look any farther. Patty's it. Turn around, Alicia. I don't get a good light on the other side. Why, Patty's--
human
Sh-h-h! she cautioned.
gpt
Here's Patty now.
human
Now, I wonder, whispered Miss Lambkin,
gpt
Sh, Letty! She'll hear you. I'll get down and go to her.
human
Without a skirt, Alicia?
gpt
Patty! Mrs. Upjohn called softly.
human
Is there anything the matter?
gpt
It--it's all o-over,
human
Your father?
gpt
I'm so sorry, Patty, Mrs. Upjohn's sympathy was genuine.
human
I _am_ so sorry.
gpt
Oh, Alicia, Patty cried in a burst of grief,
human
There, there, Patty! I'm just as sorry as I can be; and so will everybody be as soon as they hear of it. But you just cry as much as you want to. It'll do you good.
gpt
Land! The voice was the voice of Miss Lambkin and it proceeded from the doorway.
human
I'm awfully sorry to hear your father's dead, Patty. How did--
gpt
My grief is sacred,
human
Mercy me! muttered Miss Lambkin.
gpt
I didn't have my kid gloves on. I ought to have known better'n to speak to Patty without 'em. You may as well come back, Alicia, she continued in a louder voice,
human
No, she answered,
gpt
I guess the old one will do for a while yet. I shouldn't want one for anything but the funeral anyway, and you couldn't begin to get one done by that time. It would be different if it was a relative.
human
It's curious, remarked Miss Lambkin, as well as she could with her mouth full of pins,
gpt
And I wonder, she went on, working rapidly while she talked,
human
I hope so, with all my heart.
gpt
My! Letty exclaimed with an anticipatory squeal of delight.
human
Wouldn't it put Patty in a proper temper if he had! Now, Alicia, she said, standing back and looking the skirt up and down,