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 Toady defied , distracted , and delighted her , and to Toady she clung , as the one sunshiny thing in her sour , selfish old age . When he made his demure request , she looked at him , and her eyes began to twinkle , for the child 's purpose was plainly seen in the loving glances cast upon the pictorial pocket-handkerchief . `` A story ? Yes , I 'll tell you one about a little boy who had a kind old -- ahem ! -- grandma . She was rich , and had n't made up her mind who she 'd leave her money to . She was fond of the boy , -- a deal fonder than he deserved , -- for he was as mischievous a monkey as any that ever lived in a tree , with a curly tail . He put pepper in her snuff-box , '' -- here Toady turned scarlett , -- `` he cut up her bestt frisette to make a mane for his rocking-horse , '' -- Toady opened his mouth impulsively , but shut it again without betraying himself -- `` he repeated rude things to her , and called her ` an old aggrewater , ' '' -- here Toady wriggled in his chair , and gave a little gasp . `` If you are tired I wo n't go on , '' observed Aunt Kipp , mildly . `` I 'm not tired , 'm ; it 's a very interesting story , '' replied Toady , with a gravity that nearly upset the old lady . `` Well , in spite of all this , that kind , good , forgiving grandma left that bad boy twenty thousand dollars when she died . What do you think of that ? '' asked Aunt Kipp , pausing suddenly with her sharp eye on him .
`` I -- I think she was a regular dear , '' cried XXXXX , holding on to the chair with both hands , as if that climax rather took him off his legs .
Kipp Toady aggrewater dollars frisette headstrong left mane perversity snuff-box