“Ya’as’m—pas dat hour, too,” replied Sally, smiling broadly at Ruth, who returned the good-natured feeling.
“Well, well; I feel much better, Sally,” admitted Aunt Selina. “Nothing like having young folks around when one feels blue, eh? I guess you’d better bring the lunch tray here, and Miss Ruth and I will picnic this noon.”
In a few moments the waitress brought in a huge tray while Sally followed with a folding table which she placed by the side of the couch.
A joysome hour passed in “picnicking” the lunch, then Sally rang for the maid to remove the dishes. After she had gone, Sally turned to her mistress and, with the familiarity of an old servant, said, “Miss Rufie shore is de bestes tonic you ebber took. You’se et more lunch, Miss Selina, dan I’se seen yo’ et in six mont!”
Then whisking a few tiny crumbs from the couch afghan, Sally gathered up the doilies and went out, smiling contentedly.
That afternoon worked a remarkable change in Aunt Selina. She forgot all about herself and her misery while listening to her grand-niece’s story of sacrifice for others.
She listened attentively to every word, until Ruth concluded with the words, “Now, we are planning some great work for our winter nest, but we don’t know just what we will choose.”
So impressed was Aunt Selina with the movement started by the New York Organization, that she determined to help the cause in every way she could.
In the evening with the help of a cane and Sally, Aunt Selina managed to reach the dining-room for dinner. “For,” said she, “it is a shame to keep Ruth cooped up in my morning room all day long.”
During dinner she marveled at the improvement in her physical condition and worried lest her ailments return suddenly. But Ruth reassured her.