'Tilda Jane's face took on an expression of dismay, and she flew around the kitchen.
The warm atmosphere was now enwrapping the old man in a most agreeable manner, and when 'Tilda Jane handed him the big cup, he grunted something between an expression of thanks and a desire that she should hold it to his lips.
While he greedily drank the hot liquid, 'Tilda Jane, with a queer choking in her throat, addressed broken remarks to him. "I didn't know, sir—I was hopin' some one would come in—I was mos' crazy 'bout the dog—I forgot all 'bout you till jus' now."
"More," he said, shortly, when 'Tilda Jane put the cup down.
She refilled it, then, as his hands began to get supple and he could manipulate it himself, she uncovered the basket Mrs. Tracy had given her.
"I didn't look in before," she exclaimed. "Oh, the beauty eggs!" and she carefully unrolled a napkin, "an' the white rolls, an' Washington cake, an' a meat pie, an' a tart—I say, grampa, we'll have a good dinner!"
The old man looked strangely at her, but she went on unheedingly: "They're jus' boss people. I'm glad I went an' talked to 'em—I'm sorry I was so ugly to you, grampa, an' if you don't want me, I guess I'd better go 'way."
She spoke quite humbly and naturally, and, as she did so, she raised her head and glanced in Dillson's direction.
He made no response, and she went on: "I've been a very bad little girl, but I'm goin' to be better, an' you jus' tell me what you want me to do, grampa, an' I'll do it, an' if you don't want to talk, you jus' write it. I know you're a big man, an' mebbe you don't want to talk to a little girl like me, but I'll not lay it up agin you. You jus' do what you want, an' I'm not tryin' to come round you, 'cause I 'spect you'll send me off quicker'n a flash so soon as you get some one else."
Her lips were trembling, and her face was bright and expectant, but the old man gave her no satisfaction.