The story of Polly Perkins was told from the very beginning, and then Mother delivered Grandmother’s invitation, that came as a great surprise to the little girls who heard it.
‘Might Anne Marie come to spend the afternoon with Patty on Christmas Eve? The hour, four o’clock.’
Anne Marie and Patty squeezed one another’s hands in rapture at the thought.
‘Certainly, certainly,’ answered Maman and Papa Durant. ‘We shall be only too delighted to accept for Anne Marie.’
Down at the end of the street, Grandmother, holding Ailie’s little red hand, slowly climbed the four long flights of stairs that led to Ailie’s home.
Into the poor little room stepped Grandmother, at once setting startled Granny McNabb at ease by her smile and pleasant manner, even before she had time to explain what errand had brought her there.
‘Take a spoonful of this medicine before we say a word, Mrs. McNabb,’ said Grandmother, placing a chair close by Granny’s side, ‘for Ailie tells me it will cure your cough as quick as a wink.’
By the time Grandmother had finished her talk and was ready to go, she and Granny McNabb had become good friends.
‘You must let me look after you a bit until Aunt Elspeth’s ship comes in,’ said Grandmother, as she was leaving. ‘We live only around the corner and are neighbors, you know. At least we would be neighbors if we were out in the country, where I live most of the year. I shall bring around to-day the broth I told you of, that helped me when I had a cough like yours. And I am sure that my little granddaughter Patty has a number of outgrown clothes that will fit your good wee Ailie here.
‘Don’t forget the party, Ailie, on Christmas Eve, at four o’clock.’