Ted. Oh, will you, really?
Brownie [jumping off table]. Yes, I have about made up my mind to let you into the secrets of the business. You can learn a few things, I think.
Ted. Good for you! Thank you, ever so much.
Brownie. Never mind. Wait till to-morrow before you thank me. [Grins meaningly.] Now, let's be quick about this—the time is getting short. We'll just go over these lists together, and you can tell me what improvements to make. [They go to the first stocking.]
Ted. Shall I get you a paper to write things down, so you won't forget?
Brownie [shouts angrily]. Forget!
Ted. Yes, I thought maybe since you're so old——
Brownie. That shows all you know about it! Of course there's some excuse for your forgetting, since your memory is only ten years long, but mine's a thousand years long, and I never forget anything! Come, read me this list.
Ted [reading]. "Encyclopedia Britannica." Now Papa can't possibly want that, because he knows all about everything already. And besides, I heard Mamma say she hadn't a bit of room for any more books. "New knife." He did say his old one was dull, but it's altogether too sharp for Robin and me to use, and that's sharp enough for anybody! "New pocketbook." Why, he said the other day he hadn't any money to put into it, so I don't see what good that'll do him. "Key ring." If he has that, he'll put all the keys on it, and there won't be any for Robin and me to drop lead through. [Turns to the Brownie.] So, you see, there isn't a thing that he really wants on that list.
Brownie. Oh, certainly not!