"Put your hand in, Joel," she said, "and take as many's you want."
Joel's black eyes stuck out as he saw the big peppermint drops, pink ones and white ones, rolling round in the drawer the minute it was pulled open. "Can I have as many as I want, Grandma?" he screamed, hopping off from the bed to hang over the drawer.
"Yes," said Grandma, delighted to think she could do something to help, "'cause you've hurt your hand."
"I'm glad I hurt it!" exclaimed Joel. "O my! what a lot, Grandma!" which Grandma didn't hear, only she knew he was pleased by the sight of his chubby face; so she smiled, too. Mrs. Pepper found them so when she came up to the bed.
"I'm going home now, Grandma," she said. "I'll be over again by and by, or Polly will."
"Hey?" said Grandma. So Mrs. Pepper nodded and smiled and pointed to the door, and Grandma seemed satisfied.
"She told me I might have as many's I wanted," said Joel, with great satisfaction. "I like Grandma ever so much."
"Take care, Joey, you don't take too many," said Mrs. Pepper. "Grandma's good to you, so you must be good to her, and come right home from here. You may stay half an hour," pointing to the old clock. "Miss Jerusha will be gone by that time," she said to herself with a grim smile.
"I'll come right home, Mamsie," said Joel, quite upset in his mind whether to take two white peppermint drops and two pink ones, or if it would do to take three apiece.
"And don't let any cold water get on that hand," charged Mrs. Pepper the last thing.