Don't you, Mr.Gibson?' 'Certainly,' said he.'And you see you are going this year; and last year it rained.' 'Yes! I remember! I set myself to tidy my drawers, to string myself up, as it were; and I was so taken up with what I was about that I was quite startled when I heard the rain beating against the window-panes.'Goodness me!' said I to myself, 'whatever will become of sister's white satin shoes, if she has to walk about on soppy grass after such rain as this?' for, you see, I thought a deal about her having a pair of smart shoes; and this year she has gone and got me a white satin pair just as smart as hers, for a surprise.' 'Molly will know she's to put on her best clothes,' said Miss Browning.
'We could perhaps lend her a few beads, or artificials, if she wants them.' 'Molly must go in a clean white frock,' said Mr.Gibson, rather hastily;for he did not admire the Miss Brownings' taste in dress, and was unwilling to have his child decked up according to their fancy; he esteemed his old servant Betty's as the more correct, because the more simple.Miss Browning had just a shade of annoyance in her tone as she drew herself up, and said, 'Oh! very well.It's quite right, I'm sure.' But Miss Phoebe said, 'Molly will look very nice in whatever she puts on, that's certain.'