"No, no, the old lady, Madam Van Ruypen."
"Oh, well, let Polly tell that," said Jasper, turning away again. "Well, go on, Polly, she took a great fancy to him—and what then?"
"And so she invited him to go out with her in her great big carriage to help her get her Christmas things."
"Well, well!" exclaimed Jasper. "I say, Ben Pepper, of all things!"
"I wish you would stop, Polly," said Ben, in a tone of great vexation, and twisting uncomfortably on his hassock.
"Oh, I wouldn't stop her for all the world," cried Jasper, in high delight. "Well, what did they buy, Polly? Fancy Ben out shopping with a lady!"
"Well, you see, Jasper, Madam Van Ruypen goes up in the summer to the mountains, and a poor woman does her washing," said Polly, hurrying along, and not daring to look at Ben. "And she wanted to do something for her. She has ever so many children, you know."
"Who? Madam Van Ruypen?" asked Jasper, wrinkling his brows.
"No, the poor woman, the washerwoman," said Polly.
"There, Polly, you're getting all mixed up," said Ben, quite pleased. "You better stop."