The blueberries grew far away and the Old Lady had many a tramp after them . Sometimes her bones ached at night because of it ; but what cared the Old Lady for that ? Bone ache is easier to endure than soul ache ; and the Old Lady 's soul had stopped aching for the first time in many year . It was being nourished with heavenly manna . One evening Crooked Jack came up to fix something that had gone wrong with the Old Lady 's well . The Old Lady wandered affably out to him ; for she knew he had been working at the Spencers ' all day , and there might be crumbs of information about Sylvia to be picked up . `` I reckon the music teacher 's feeling pretty blue this evening , '' Crooked Jack remarked , after straining the Old Lady 's patience to the last verge of human endurance by expatiating on William Spencer 's new pump , and Mrs. Spencer 's new washing-machine , and Amelia Spencer 's new young man . `` Why ? '' asked the Old Lady , turning very pale . Had anything happened to Sylvia ? `` Well , she 's been invited to a big party at Mrs. Moore 's brother 's in town , and she has n't got a dress to go in , '' said Crooked Jack . `` They 're great swells and everybody will be got up regardless . Mrs. Spencer was telling me about it . She says Miss Gray ca n't afford a new dress because she 's helping to pay her aunt 's doctor 's bills . She says she 's sure Miss Gray feels awful disappointed over it , though she does n't let on . But Mrs. Spencer says she knows she was crying after she went to bed last night . '' The Old Lady turned and went into the house abruptly . This was dreadful . Sylvia must go to that party -- she MUST . But how was it to be managed ?
Through the Old Lady 's brain passed wild thoughts XXXXX her mother 's silk dresses .
about after at because in into of over though with