“What a pity!” said Mrs. Alvord. “I wish I had some candy for you.”
“Come, Gilly,” whispered Jimmy, plucking his companion by the sleeve. “Come, Gilly; let’s go.”
“Wait a minute,” said Mrs. Alvord. “My sister, Mrs. Lewis, keeps peppermints sometimes in a box on her bureau. Now, if peppermints will only do?”
She had turned to go up the staircase. Jimmy felt that it was not polite to give the kind lady all this trouble; but before he could think exactly what to say, or indeed whether he ought to say anything at all, she was gone.
She soon returned, bearing in her hand a pretty gilt-edged plate, on which were several peppermints, pink and white.
“Just fourteen. I’m so glad there were any left!” said she, smiling. “Mrs. Lewis wishes she had a boxful. Now hold out your hands, little boys, and I’ll divide. Seven for you, Master Gilly, and seven for you, Master Jamie.”
Gilbert had opened his lizard-skin wallet by this time, and was offering Mrs. Alvord first the nickel, and then the dime.
“No; oh, no; keep your money, child! I give you the peppermints.”