The Tumble. 59

 

May, laughing. ‘I think I shall be
a woman before you are a man, be-
cause ’'m older ; and I don’t expect
to be a woman yet. There’s lots of
things I’ve got to learn first.’

‘Ts dere? said Johnny, wonder-
ingly ; for it seemed to him that his
sister could do most things.

‘Oh, yes! said May. ‘You see
I can’t wash clothes yet, at least, not
properly, only a mark or so out of a
pinafore, or the skirt of my frock,
you know; and that’s nothing to
speak of. Why, there are father’s
shirts and mother’s gowns, and the
sheets off the beds, and lots of things
that I couldn’t do: and women must
be able to do all such things. And