"It is very pretty," said little Mrs. Bliss, lifting the coral and bells reverently.
"Her name was Lucy," said Mrs. Tree. "She married Arthur Blyth, cousin to the girls, and died when little Arthur was born. You may have that for your baby; I'm keeping Arthur's for little Vesta's child. If you thank me, you sha'n't have it."
CHAPTER XIV.
TOMMY CANDY, AND THE LETTER HE BROUGHT
"How do you do, Thomas Candy?" said Mrs. Tree.
"How-do-you-do-Missis-Tree-I'm-pretty-well-thank-you-and-hope-you-are-the-same!" replied Tommy Candy, in one breath.
"Humph! you shake hands better than you did; but remember to press with the palm, not pinch with the fingers! Now, what do you want?"
"I brung you a letter," said Tommy Candy. "I was goin' by the post-office, and Mr. Jaquith hollered to me and said bring it to you, and so I brung it."
"I thank you, Thomas," said the old lady, taking the letter and laying it down without looking at it. "Sit down! There are burnt almonds in the ivory box. Humph! I hear very bad accounts of you, Tommy Candy."
Tommy looked up from an ardent consideration of the relative size of the burnt almonds; his face was that of a freckled cherub who knew not sin.