Very pretty, but
Now youre wasting time. There, Ive written the number. What next?
The date, please. And the year.
Well, Ive written the date, but it spilled all over the year space. It doesnt matter, though, cause itll be this year for a long while yet, and this check will be vouched, or whatever you call it, before the year is out.
But you must write the year.
But how can I, when there isnt room?
Tear that up, and begin a new check.
And waste all that money! Oh, I didnt want an account, anyway! I told Daddy it would make me more extravagant! And youre so cross to me. And here, Ive spoiled a lot of my money the first thing!
Oh, no, Miss Young, you havent! There, there, dont look so distressed! Ill make it all right for you.
Youll make it all right! How dare you, sir? Do you dream for a moment Id take your money to replace my own losses?
Now, wait, you dont understand. This check is worthless until its signed. Now, well tear it out, so, and begin again. Make smaller letters and figures, cant you?
Oh, how cute that check comes out! You just tear it by the little perforated dots, dont you? Let me tear one out!
Write it first; youll probably spoil it, and have to tear it out.
How unkind you are! And Im doing my very best. Dont find fault with me, please, dont!
Well, dont wrinkle up your nose like that, it looks like a crumpled rose petal! And dont write your name there! Thats the place for the amount!
Oh, what a fuss! What does it matter, so long as all the spaces are filled? My goodness, the checks all done, isnt it? And its quite entirely all right, isnt it?
Yes, its irreproachable. How will you have the money?
If I take the money, do I have to give you this check?
Certainly.
Then I wont take any money, thank you. I want to take this check home and show it to Daddy. Hell be so pleased and proud! I know hell keep it as a souvenir, and then hell give me some of his money for the hat!
THE DRESSMAKER IN THE HOUSE
SCENE. A sewing-room, with the usual piles of unfinished or unmended clothing heaped on tables and chairs. Mrs. Lester, a pretty, fussy little woman, is trying on her own gowns and then tossing them aside, one after another.
Enter Miss Cotton, a visiting dressmaker.
Mrs. Lester: Oh, Miss Cotton, Im so glad youve come! Im nearly frantic. Excuse the looks of this sewing-room. I dont see why a sewing-room never can keep itself cleared up! I suppose its because they never have any closets in them; or if they do, you have to hang your best dresses there theres no other place. And so this room gets simply jammed with white work and mending and hats, and I dont know what all! My husband says its like the Roman Forum done in dry-goods. But hes a regular Miss Nancy about neatness and order. Now, to-day, Miss Cotton, were going to do sleeves. See? Sleeves! And nothing else. Im simply driven crazy by them.
Oh, dont look as if you didnt know what I meant! You know, all my gowns have elbow sleeves, and I must either have long ones put in or throw the whole dress away.
Yes, I know I said Id wear the short sleeves, if other people did insist on having long ones. I know I said Id be independent, and at least wear out the ones I have. But Im conquered! I admit it! It isnt any fun to go to a luncheon and be the only woman at the table with elbow sleeves!
Yesterday I went to Mrs. Ritchies Bridge, and my partner, that big Mrs. Van Winkle, with chains of scarabs all over her chest till she looked like the British Museum, kept pulling her long sleeves down farther over her knuckles just to annoy me.
Yes, I know it, my forearm is white and round, but I declare it makes me feel positively indecent to go with it bared nowadays. If those suffrage people would only get for women the right to bare arms, theyd do something worth while.
No, indeed, I cant afford to get new gowns. These are too good to throw away.
Well, they may not be the latest style, but I dont want those bolster-slip arrangements for mine.
Mrs. Van Bumpus, now you know her, dont you? Well, it would take two kimonos to go round her, Im sure; and I saw her the other day in one of those clinging satin rigs. My! she looked exactly like a gypsy-wagon, the kind that has canvas stretched over its ribs.
No, its sleeves, sleeves, Im after to-day and thats why I sent for you.
Im going to superintend them, you understand, but I want you to help, and to do the plain sewing.
Well, to begin on this mauve crépon. I want to wear it this afternoon, and I think we can easily get it done, between us.
Ive bought a paper pattern I bought three for I mean to spare no expense in getting my sleeves right.
So I bought three different makes, and think this one is best. It was a sort of bargain, too, for they sold the sleeve pattern and a pattern for little boys pajamas, all for ten cents. I dont know what to do with the pajamas pattern so that does seem a waste. Ive no little boy, and I shouldnt make pajamas for him if I had. I think the one-piece nighties far more sensible. If you know of any one who has a little boy, Ill sell that pattern for half price. Still, ten cents wasnt much to pay for this sleeve pattern. You see, its really three sleeve patterns. One plain, with dart; one plain, without dart; and one tucked. Ill use them all, in different waists, but for this mauve crépon, I think, well try the tucked one. It would be sweet in net or chiffon. Yes, I bought both materials, for I didnt know which youd think prettier; I trust a great deal to your judgment and experience, though I always rely on my own taste.
Now, heres the tucked sleeve. Merciful powers! Look at the length of it! Oh, its to be tucked all the way up, you see, and that brings it the right length. Wouldnt it be easier to cut the sleeve from net already tucked? No, thats so I couldnt match the shade in tucked stuff of any sort. I tried in seven shops. Well, lets see. These rows of perforations match these rows. No that isnt right. That would make the tucks wider than the spaces. Why, I never saw such millions of perforations in one piece of paper before! Look here, this isnt a sleeve pattern at all! Its a Pianola roll! Im going to put through and see if it isnt that old thing in F, or something classic. Cut out the tucked sleeve, Miss Cotton. Oh, wait, I didnt mean that literally! My husband reproves me so often for using slang. I mean, I wont have my arms done up in Bachs fugues; I should feel like a hand-organ.
Lets try this plain sleeve with dart. Hm lay the line of large perforations lengthwise of the material. And here are large perforations sprinkled all over the thing! Oh, no, that isnt the way! Yes, Im quite willing you should show me, if you know yourself but I see these directions confuse you as much as they do me; and if theres to be a mistake made in cutting this expensive material, Id rather make it myself. This says, developed in piqué it will produce satisfactory results. Well, I cant wear piqué sleeves in a crépon gown! Can I? There Ive cut it! Now, close seam, gather between double crosses, make no seam where there are three crosses, bring together corresponding lines of perforations and finish free edges! Well! I rather guess those free edges will finish me! However, baste it up, Miss Cotton, and Ill try it on. Its easy to make sleeves, after all, isnt it?