"Well, do you get right straight down, Matilda Hansell. You ain't goin' to look over, now."
"I won't get down. And I will look too," declared Matilda, savagely.
"Let's see you." With that Matthew shifted his seat on the floor; seeing which, Jane nimbly slipped into Matilda's place.
"Oh, now, that's my place, Jane Hansell," cried Matilda, with a very red face and blazing eyes.
"No, 'tain't," said Matthew, "that's Jane's. Now you keep still, or I'll put you out along with Elviry."
"I'll tell Mother you put Elviry out," said Matilda, with venom.
"Well, you needn't," said Matthew, composedly; "an' she ain't cold, 'cause Luke's took her out Mammy's big shawl. I seen him."
"'Mrs. Hansell,'" and he fell to reading the letter again. "'I re-mem, m-e-m,'—yes, that's it,—'ber, b-e-r—remember you did my wash—washing last summer. You a-p-p-e-a-r-e-d—'" Matthew scratched his head, looked sideways at the word, then full in front, with great determination, then gave it up as a bad job, and slid over it, hoping the children wouldn't notice it.
"Elviry'd read that," said Matilda, "as quick's anythin'."
"'To have a g-r-e-a-t great many c-h-i-l-d-r-e-n, so I t-h-o-u-g-h-t,'"—again Matthew scratched his head and gave great diligence to the word, but was forced to relinquish it also, plunging on,—"'I would send you a box.'" That was plain enough, especially as the box was there before them. "'Some of the a-r-t-i-c-l-e-s—' What in the world is that?" cried Matthew, in despair.