I thought I 'd just ` give her a hint , ' as you say . She looked all right , and laughed when I told her about being a bore , and I thought she liked it . If she was a man , I 'd thrash her for making Polly cry ; '' and Toady shook his fist at Aunt Kipp 's umbrella , which was an immense relief to his perturbed spirit . `` Bless the boy ! I do believe he would ! '' cried Mrs. Snow , watching the little turkey-cock with maternal pride . `` You ca n't do that : so just be careful and not make any more mischief , dear . '' `` I 'll try , mother ; but I 'm always getting into scrapes with Aunt Kipp . She 's worse than measles , any day , -- such an old aggrawater ! Van 's coming this afternoon , wo n't he make her pleasant again ? '' `` Oh , dear , no ! He will probably make things ten times worse , he 's so bashful and queer . I 'm afraid our last chance is gone , deary , and we must rub along as we have done . '' One sniff of emotion burst from Toady , and for a moment he laid his head in the knife-tray , overcome with disappointment and regret . But scorning to yield to unmanly tears , he was soon himself again . Thrusting his beloved jackknife , with three blades and a file , into Polly 's hand , he whispered , brokenly , -- `` Keep it forever 'n' ever ; I 'm awful sorry ! '' Then , feeling that the magnitude of this sacrifice atoned for everything , he went to watch for Van , -- the forlorn hope to which he now clung . II `` Sophy , I 'm surprised at your want of judgment . Do you really mean to let your girl marry this Lamb ? Why , the man 's a fool ! ''
began Aunt XXXXX , after dinner , by way of opening a pleasant conversation with her relatives .
Kipp Polly Sophy Van day deary jackknife knife-tray right turkey-cock