Betty’s mind came back from officers and university students to Kettle.
“We must try and get him some decent clothes, Mammy,” answered Betty, Aunt Tulip having been Betty’s mammy in her baby days.
“Anyhow,” continued Aunt Tulip, “the boy has got sumpin’ decent fur Chris’mus mornin’. I done washed his clo’es an’ mended ’em up the bes’ I could.”
“And were you washing and ironing and mending all this Christmas night?” asked Betty.
“Well,” replied Aunt Tulip, “I didn’t mind settin’ up an’ gittin’ the boy’s things kinder decent. But, Miss Betty, the boy has got to have a Chris’mus stockin’.”
“Of course,” cried Betty. “You can put some apples and oranges and nuts in it.”
“An’ Cesar an’ me kin give him a quarter apiece to’des a new pair of shoes. His shoes ain’ nothin’ ’tall.”
Betty dived into her dressing-table drawer and took out of her little purse a dollar bill.
“And this is from Grandfather, for the shoes, too. He would never forgive us if something wasn’t put into the boy’s stocking from him. Now, what can I think of to give him?”
“He ain’ got no collar nor cravat,” said Aunt Tulip. “He would look right nice to-morrer if he jes’ had a collar and cravat.”