This amused Tommy. He laughed.
Already the tragedy was being relegated to the background of his mind. He slipped off the chair, and, advancing to Mammy who was folding up the trousers, offered her the piece of pink ribbon that had harnessed the chocolate donkey to the chocolate cart.
“For keeps!” he explained.
The fact that Mammy accepted the gift was a sign that the feud was ended.
Along the kitchen floor, over the linoleum, was a strip of old carpet, put there partly to take the tread and partly to give a little extra comfort and keep the feet warm at meal-times. In jumping across the floor Tommy pushed this out of place.
“Mind my best Brussels!” warned Mammy, playfully, and Tommy felt that he was indeed forgiven.
His joy thereupon became so exuberant that the strip of carpet was kicked entirely out of place.
Then Mrs. Tregennis became firm again. “Put that carpet straight to wanst,” she ordered, and reluctantly Tommy obeyed at one end of the strip.
“Now here,” said Mammy, pointing to the disarranged part at her feet.
“That be your end,” demurred Tommy, but the stern looks of both Mammy and Miss Margaret compelled him to adjust that end also.