`` It sounds very nice , but aunt will be dreadfully offended and I do n't wish to be ungrateful , '' said Mrs. Snow , brightening visibly . `` There 's no ingratitude about it , '' cried Van . `` She might have done everything to make you love , and respect , and admire her , and been a happy , useful , motherly , old soul ; but she did n't choose to , and now she must take the consequences . No one cares for her , because she cares for nobody ; her money 's the plague of her life , and not a single heart will ache when she dies . '' `` Poor Aunt Kipp ! '' said Polly , softly . Mrs. Snow echoed the words , and for a moment all thought pitifully of the woman whose life had given so little happiness , whose age had won so little reverence , and whose death would cause so little regret . Even Toady had a kind thought for her , as he broke the silence , saying soberly , -- `` You 'd better put tails on my jackets , mother ; then the next time we get run away with , Aunt Kipp will have something to hold on by . '' It was impossible to help laughing at the recollection of the old lady clutching at the boy till he had hardly a button left , and at the paternal air with which he now proposed a much-desired change of costume , as if intent on Aunt Kipp 's future accommodation . Under cover of the laugh , the old lady stole back to bed , wide awake , and with subjects enough to meditate upon now . The shaking up had certainly done her good , for somehow the few virtues she possessed came to the surface , and the mental shower-bath just received had produced a salutary change . Polly would n't have doubted her aunt 's possession of a heart , if she could have known the pain and loneliness that made it ache , as the old woman crept away ; and Toady would n't have laughed if he had seen the tears on the face , between the big frills , as Aunt Kipp laid it on the pillow , muttering , drearily , -- `` I might have been a happy , useful woman , but I did n't choose to , and now it 's too late . '' It was too late to be all she might have been , for the work of seventy selfish years could n't be undone in a minute . But with regret , rose the sincere wish to earn a little love before the end came , and the old perversity gave a relish to the reformation , for even while she resolved to do the just and generous thing , she said to herself , -- `` They say I 've got no heart ; I 'll show 'em that I have : they do n't want my money ; I 'll make 'em take it : they turn their backs on me ; I 'll just render myself so useful and agreeable that they ca n't do without me . '' III Aunt Kipp sat bolt upright in the parlor , hemming a small handkerchief , adorned with a red ship , surrounded by a border of green monkeys . Toady suspected that this elegant article of dress was intended for him , and yearned to possess it ; so , taking advantage of his mother 's and Polly 's absence , he strolled into the room , and , seating himself on a high , hard chair , folded his hands , crossed his legs , and asked for a story with the thirsting-for-knowledge air which little boys wear in the moral story-books . Now Aunt Kipp had one soft place in her heart , though it was partially ossified , as she very truly declared , and Toady was enshrined therein . She thought there never was such a child , and loved him as she had done his father before him , though the rack would n't have forced her to confess it . She scolded , snubbed , and predicted he 'd come to a bad end in public ; but she forgave his naughtiest pranks , always brought him something when she came , and privately intended to make his future comfortable with half of her fortune . There was a dash and daring , a generosity and integrity , about the little fellow , that charmed her .
Sophy was weak and low-spirited , Polly pretty and headstrong , and Aunt Kipp did n't think much of either of them ; but XXXXX defied , distracted , and delighted her , and to Toady she clung , as the one sunshiny thing in her sour , selfish old age .
Kipp Polly Snow Toady Van left minute perversity story-books years