Mrs. Snooks was ironing as Priscilla appeared in the doorway, and the flush that stained her sallow cheeks was not altogether due to the proximity of a glowing stove.
“Mrs. Snooks,” Priscilla began, finding the ordeal rather more trying than she had expected, “I’ve come to see if you’ll lend us your coffee-pot till to-morrow.”
Mrs. Snooks tested her flat-iron with a damp forefinger, and then resumed her work. Her answer was so long coming that Priscilla began to wonder if she were not intending to reply.
“There’s been a good deal of borrowing ’round in this neighborhood first and last,” Mrs. Snooks remarked at length, with impressive dignity. “And lately I’ve been laying in a considerable stock of new things, including a coffee-pot. I’ve made up my mind that I’ll neither borrow nor lend. While I don’t like to seem unneighborly,” concluded Mrs. Snooks, setting down her flat-iron with a startling thud, “it’s a matter of principle. I’ve done the last lending or borrowing that I’m a-going to.”
It was apparent that Amy’s ruse had worked, and that Mrs. Snooks had learned her lesson, but it needed the girls’ united efforts to dissuade Aunt Abigail from following up Priscilla’s visit, by a call of her own. Aunt Abigail argued that in order to make the effects of the lesson permanent, it was necessary to “rub it in.” From a hint she finally let fall, the girls gathered that she was disappointed in not being able to carry out a brilliant idea that had flashed into her mind while the plot was developing.
“What was it you were going to borrow, Aunt Abigail?” Ruth asked, but Aunt Abigail shook her head. “If I had succeeded in getting it from Mrs. Snooks,” she replied, “you should have known. Not otherwise.” And as Peggy who happened out on the porch at that moment, threw the weight of her influence on the side of those who were protesting against any further visits to Mrs. Snooks, it seemed probable that the curiosity of the company would remain ungratified. Aunt Abigail was an old lady abundantly able to keep her own counsel.
Peggy viewed the apple-pie with an air of disquiet. “Now, we’ll have to buy some apples, right away. We’re out.”
“Well, what of it?”
“Why, we must make a pie in the morning to return to Mrs. Snooks.”
“Return!” cried Amy. “Why, Peggy, you’re going to ruin everything. This is ‘spoiling the Egyptians.’ What did Mrs. Snooks ever return that we didn’t send for?” As Peggy refused to alter her determination, a little murmur of dissatisfaction arose.