“Silence,” in an awesome tone, and added: “Philip is going to stay to work about the place and do chores and care for the flowers—AND tell you stories when you are half-way good and he feels like it. So you had better be good.”
Away went the children to tell the wonderful news to Nurse Huggins, all excepting Martha Mary, who was rather curious.
“Mother Dear,” she said. “Please, who is Flip and how did you get Father to let him stay?”
“Flip is a very fine boy,” said Mother, “and he has aspirations.”
“What are aspirations?” asked Martha Mary.
“You explain to her, Father,” said Mother Dear.
“Well, it is this way,” said Father. “Aspirations are like—like—now let me see—you know—— Oh! You tell her, Mother.”
“Why, it is simple, Dear,” said Mother. “Aspirations—— Flip! Explain to Martha Mary what aspirations are.”
But Flip had followed the other children, to be introduced to Cook and Nurse Huggins, so Martha Mary did not find out for ages and ages why Flip had aspirations or what they were.