Copy-Cat Other Stories | Page 7

can see," said Miss Parmalee. "It
looks to me like one of those situations that no human being can
change for better or worse."
"I suppose you are right," said Madame, "but it is most unfortunate, and
Mrs. Wheeler is such a superior woman, and Amelia is her only child,
and this is such a very subtle and regrettable affair. Well, we have to
leave a great deal to Providence."
"If," said Miss Parmalee, "she could only get angry when she is called
'Copy-Cat.'" Miss Parma- lee laughed, and so did Miss Acton. Then all
the ladies had their cups refilled, and left Providence to look out for
poor little Amelia Wheeler, in her mad pursuit of her ideal in the shape
of another little girl possessed of the exterior graces which she had not.
Meantime the little "Copy-Cat" had never been so happy. She began to
improve in her looks also. Her grandmother Wheeler noticed it first,
and spoke of it to Grandmother Stark. "That child may not be so plain,
after all," said she. "I looked at her this morning when she started for
school, and I thought for the first time that there was a little re-
semblance to the Wheelers."
Grandmother Stark sniffed, but she looked grati- fied. "I have been
noticing it for some time," said she, "but as for looking like the
Wheelers, I thought this morning for a minute that I actually saw my
poor dear husband looking at me out of that blessed child's eyes."

Grandmother Wheeler smiled her little, aggra- vating, curved, pink
smile.
But even Mrs. Diantha began to notice the change for the better in
Amelia. She, however, attributed it to an increase of appetite and a
system of deep breathing which she had herself taken up and en- joined
Amelia to follow. Amelia was following Lily Jennings instead, but that
her mother did not know. Still, she was gratified to see Amelia's little
sallow cheeks taking on pretty curves and a soft bloom, and she was
more inclined to listen when Grand- mother Wheeler ventured to
approach the subject of Amelia's attire.
"Amelia would not be so bad-looking if she were better dressed,
Diantha," said she.
Diantha lifted her chin, but she paid heed. "Why, does not Amelia dress
perfectly well, mother?" she inquired.
"She dresses well enough, but she needs more ribbons and ruffles."
"I do not approve of so many ribbons and ruffles," said Mrs. Diantha.
"Amelia has perfectly neat, fresh black or brown ribbons for her hair,
and ruffles are not sanitary."
"Ruffles are pretty," said Grandmother Wheeler, "and blue and pink are
pretty colors. Now, that Jennings girl looks like a little picture."
But that last speech of Grandmother Wheeler's undid all the previous
good. Mrs. Diantha had an unacknowledged -- even to herself --
disapproval of Mrs. Jennings which dated far back in the past, for a
reason which was quite unworthy of her and of her strong mind. When
she and Lily's mother had been girls, she had seen Mrs. Jennings look
like a picture, and had been perfectly well aware that she herself fell far
short of an artist's ideal. Perhaps if Mrs. Stark had believed in ruffles
and ribbons, her daugh- ter might have had a different mind when
Grand- mother Wheeler had finished her little speech.
As it was, Mrs. Diantha surveyed her small, pretty mother-in-law with
dignified serenity, which savored only delicately of a snub. "I do not
myself approve of the way in which Mrs. Jennings dresses her daugh-
ter," said she, "and I do not consider that the child presents to a
practical observer as good an appear- ance as my Amelia."
Grandmother Wheeler had a temper. It was a childish temper and soon
over -- still, a temper. "Lord," said she, "if you mean to say that you
think your poor little snipe of a daughter, dressed like a little

maid-of-all-work, can compare with that lovely little Lily Jennings,
who is dressed like a doll! --"
"I do not wish that my daughter should be dressed like a doll," said Mrs.
Diantha, coolly.
"Well, she certainly isn't," said Grandmother Wheeler. "Nobody would
ever take her for a doll as far as looks or dress are concerned. She may
be GOOD enough. I don't deny that Amelia is a good little girl, but her
looks could be improved on."
"Looks matter very little," said Mrs. Diantha.
"They matter very much," said Grandmother Wheeler, pugnaciously,
her blue eyes taking on a peculiar opaque glint, as always when she lost
her temper, "very much indeed. But looks can't be helped. If poor little
Amelia wasn't born with pretty looks, she wasn't. But she wasn't born
with such ugly clothes. She might be better dressed."
"I dress my daughter as I