That was not deception at all , since we did all these things frequently -- much more frequently , in fact , than we painted or fiddled or wrote . But Aunt Susanna would never believe it . Nor did she believe it now . She threw back her lovely new sealskin cape , looked around the sitting-room and then smiled -- a truly Aunt Susannian smile . -LSB- Illustration -RSB- `` What a pity you forgot to wipe that smudge of paint off your nose , Laura , '' she said sarcastically . `` You do n't seem to get on very fast with your lace . How long is it since you began it ? Over three months , is n't it ? '' `` This is the third piece of the same pattern I 've done in three months , Aunt Susanna , '' said Laura presently . Laura is an old duck . She never gets cross and snaps back . I do ; and it 's so hard not to with Aunt Susanna sometimes . But I generally manage it for I 'd do anything for Margaret . Laura did not tell Aunt Susanna that she sold her lace at the Women 's Exchange in town and made enough to buy her new hats . She makes enough out of her water colors to dress herself . Aunt Susanna took a second breath and started in again . `` I notice your violin has n't quite as much dust on it as the rest of the things in this room , Kate . It 's a pity you stopped playing just as I came in . I do n't enjoy fiddling much but I 'd prefer it to seeing anyone using a needle who is n't accustomed to it . '' Kate is really a most dainty needlewoman and does all the fine sewing in our family .
She colored and said nothing -- XXXXX being the highest pitch of virtue to which our Katie , like myself , can attain .
Over as at for in of since than that to