"Do, do come out," she begged, meanwhile scrambling about, herself, to pick up the crackers. She collected most of them that were whole easily enough. But some had broken and the pieces had scattered far and wide.
With some difficulty the old lady crept out from under the far side of the bed. She was ready to retire, her nightcap securely tied under her chin, and all.
When Ruth, much troubled by a desire to laugh, asked her, she explained that the first missile had landed upon her head while she was kneeling beside the bed at her devotions.
"I got up and another of the things hit me on the ear," pursued Aunt Sarah, short and sharp. "Another landed in the small of my back, and I went over into that corner. But pieces of the ceiling were droppin' all over and no matter where I got to, they hit me. So I dove under the bed——"
"Oh! you poor, dear Auntie!"
"If the dratted ceilin's all comin' down, this ain't no place for us to stay," quoth Aunt Sarah.
"I am sure it is all over," urged Ruth. "But if you'd like to go to another room——?"
"And sleep in a bed that ain't been aired in a dog's age?" snapped Aunt Sarah. "I guess not."
"Then, will you come and sleep with me? Aggie can go into the children's room."
"No. If you are sure there ain't no more goin' to fall?"