Anne laughed. To have a secret with Uncle Enos was about the most delightful thing she could imagine; and to have it mean a fine cedar chair for her doll to sit in was the best kind of a secret.
“You mustn’t let Martha Stoddard Nelson face toward me more than you can help,” went on Uncle Enos. “You don’t think she has noticed what I am doing, do you?”
“No,” whispered Anne. “I’ll be very careful, and let her stay up-stairs a good deal until the chair is finished.”
“That will be a good plan,” said Uncle Enos, “and there comes your Aunt Martha. I hear her at the door.”
Anne ran to open the door and Mrs. Stoddard came in smiling and rosy from her walk in the sharp wind. The white kitten jumped up and came running toward her, and the good woman looked about the cheerful room as if she thought it the finest place in the world.
“I have more scarlet yarn,” she said, sitting down near Captain Enos, “and I have a present for thee, Anne; something that Mistress Starkweather sent thee with her love,” and Mrs. Stoddard handed Anne a small package.
“It’s a box!” declared the little girl, taking off the paper in which it was wrapped, “and see how sweet it smells.”
“’Tis of sandalwood,” said Captain Enos. “There must be many such in the settlement, for ’twas but a few years ago that some of our men came back from a voyage to Ceylon, and fetched such boxes in their chests.”
“Open it, Anne,” said Mrs. Stoddard, and Anne carefully took off the cover.
“Look, look!” she exclaimed, holding out the box toward Aunt Martha; “what are these shining things; all pink and round?” and she picked up a string of pink coral beads and held them up.