And oh ! such good times as they had ! They made taffy . Jims had always longed to make taffy , but Aunt Augusta 's immaculate kitchen and saucepans might not be so desecrated . They read fairy tales together . Mr. Burroughs had disapproved of fairy tales . They blew soap-bubbles out on the lawn and let them float away over the garden and the orchard like fairy balloons . They had glorious afternoon teas under the beech tree . They made ice cream themselves . Jims even slid down the bannisters when he wanted to . And he could try out a slang word or two occasionally without anybody dying of horror . Miss Avery did not seem to mind it a bit . At first Miss Avery always wore dark sombre dresses . But one day Jims found her in a pretty gown of pale primrose silk . It was very old and old-fashioned , but Jims did not know that . He capered round her in delight . `` You like me better in this ? '' she asked , wistfully . `` I like you just as well , no matter what you wear , '' said Jims , `` but that dress is awfully pretty . '' `` Would you like me to wear bright colors , Jims ? ''
`` You bet I would , '' said XXXXX emphatically .
Avery Burroughs Jims afternoon bannisters garden primrose saucepans soap-bubbles taffy