bonnet-strings were flying loose as she came in, and she fanned herself
all the way across the room, which shook as she walked.

"Well, my dear," she said, as she plumped herself into the
rocking-chair, "and how do you do?"

"Very well, thank you," replied Katy, thinking that she never saw Mrs.
Worrett look half so fat before, and wondering how she _was_ to
entertain her.

"And how's your Pa?" inquired Mrs. Worrett. Katy answered politely, and
then asked after Mrs. Worrett's own health.

"Well, I'm so's to be round," was the reply, which had the effect of
sending Elsie off into a fit of convulsive laughter behind Katy's chair.

"I had business at the bank," continued the visitor, "and I thought
while I was about it I'd step up to Miss Petingill's and see if I
couldn't get her to come and let out my black silk. It was made quite a
piece back, and I seem to have fleshed up since then, for I can't make
the hooks and eyes meet at all. But when I got there, she was out, so
I'd my walk for nothing. Do you know where she's sewing now?"

"No," said Katy, feeling her chair shake, and keeping her own
countenance with difficulty, "she was here for three days last week to
make Johnnie a school-dress. But I haven't heard anything about her
since. Elsie, don't you want to run down stairs and ask Bridget to
bring a--a--a glass of iced water for Mrs. Worrett? She looks warm
after her walk."